Quartet is a performance for two dancers and two cameras. The exploratory excursion is dedicated to the internal and external architectures of our relationships. The cameras monitor the actions live, acting as a mirror and voyeur; they emphasise and change what is already visible and reveal what is hidden from view.
The primary processes of the choreography and the performance itself are reduction, duplication and montage. Reduction to the most basic elements of relationship, movement and physical proximity. The walk, touch and gaze that blend together to form the score of the quartet. The gaze of the couple, the gaze of the cameras, and the gaze of the spectator. And play, as the intrinsic nature of relationships and the very act of performance. A game of the possible combinations of reduced and re-extended elements. The focal point between body and two-dimensional image is the game of dichotomy between pleasure and violence, coexistence and alienation.
Shown from different perspectives, the fabricated story reveals itself to the spectators enabling them to observe the construction of performative reality.
Choreography and video direction: Magdalena Reiter
Created with and performed by: Jerca Rožnik Novak, Beno Novak
Video design: Sandi Skok
Music: August Braatz
Set design: Urša Vidic, Maruša Mali
Light design: Mojca Sarjaš
Costume design: Pia Gorišek
Production: Zavod Mirabelka
Co-production: Cankarjev dom
Partners: KUD Qulenium, Adrian film
The show is co-financed by: The Municipality of Ljubljana – Department of Culture and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia
Duration: 60 minutes
Magdalena Reiter is a Polish choreographer, dancer and pedagogue based in Slovenia. She graduated from the National Ballet School in Gdańsk and P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios) in Brussels. She created more than 20 choreographic pieces in frame of independent production houses and as commissioned works (for Polish Dance Theatre – Poznan Ballet, Bodhi Project – a company in residency at SEAD, Anton Podbevšek Teater, Plesna Izba Maribor, Dada von Bzdülow Theatre) . Her works were presented in multiple European countries.
She was awarded Ksenija Hribar Award (2023) for the choreographic works between 2021-2022, Best performance award of the international jury at the 2nd Slovene Dance Festival Gibanica, Best performance award at 8th Teaterfest in Sarajevo. She works as choreographer for theatre productions (with Mateja Koležnik, Janez Burger, Vedrana Klepica, Matjaž Berger, Skaagen, De Tijd, ect. ), opera productions and works as a movement advisor in films (Silent sonata and IVAN by Janez Burger). She leads workshops, classes and works as a mentor. As a pedagogue she’s been working in Slovenia, Austria (SEAD), Germany (Folkwang University) France, Poland, Belgium, Croatia (Zagreb Dance Academy), ect. Magdalena was the founder and artistic director of VIBRA – International summer dance festival and workshops Ljubljana (2013-2021) and is a founder of Mirabelka productions.