Letting go of everything: movement, sound and silence, all in one

Zug-based dancer Seraina Tall is bringing her sound and dance performance "Nüd" to the Chollerhalle in Zug on Friday.
 

How is "Nüd" (nothing) supposed to work? An empty stage, without artists or musicians? Seraina Tall understands such questions. But she deliberately chose this title for the piece, and explains it as follows: "Yes, 'Nüd' means 'nothing' in Swiss German, and it means 'naked' in Romansh.'" But she associates a deeper meaning with "Nüd," which will be sensually revealed to the audience in the holistic performance, a blend of dance, sound healing, and immersive sound art.

Seraina Tall is not alone on stage. She is accompanied by Martial In-Albon, a jazz musician from Ägeri, and Stefan Seeliger from Hünenberg, who works with electronic music and live looping. The sounds are recorded live and re-composed. Seraina Tall envisioned realising a holistic art project with them because all three are also Polarity therapists.

Dance as a mirror of the soul
"I've had the idea for this project for some time, influenced by my work as a therapist and hospice worker. Today, in turbulent times, many people struggle to find a moment of stillness - a point of calm. You can, of course, take a course or go for a walk in the woods." But such moments of peace don't just come to you. But it really requires "Nüd," because there’s so much potential in every person. And it requires the willingness to let go. This is often prevented by ourselves, or by external prejudices.

"I want to convey a beautiful moment," says Zug-based dancer Seraina Tall.           Photo: supplied.
 

Dance opens up a vast field of possible movements, but it also reflects the emotional state of the performers – especially when it is free from prescribed steps. Seraina Tall is well aware of this: she brings considerable knowledge and expertise to the table. In her new piece, she allows the body to perform completely unconstrained movements, developing her own unique dance from them.

In this way, she wants to inspire people to also be symbolically unconstrained, to question or change prescribed role models. "It's also a challenge for me to show myself so openly, from within, directly and vulnerably."

The piece as a snapshot
The idea for the choreography is in place, but the piece is actually born live in the moment, from the energy of the three participants themselves. The dancer's movements, the sound of horns and percussion instruments, voice and breath create vibrations that both she and the audience can perceive.

Seraina Tall believes that this creates a space for an experience that becomes a shared field of resonance. “I want to convey a beautiful moment, to provide a visual and auditory experience with sounds and vibrations. The space in the Chollerhalle will be kept simple, with bodies and sound objects, and I will be close to the audience. This will allow the audience to sensually immerse themselves in the soundscape and arrive, for a moment, in themselves and in the ‘Nüd’.”

Information:
The “Nüd” sound and dance performance will be performed in the Chollerhalle Zug at 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm on Friday, 30th May.
Tickets are available on:
www.chollerhalle.ch.

Ticket prices with free seating:
Normal            CHF 35.00
Budget             CHF 25.00
Support            CHF 45.00