Movement that Strikes a Raw Nerve in “Syndrome of the Absent-Minded”
Two bodies intertwined in a battle of the wills, neither backing down. It is a cold, measured confrontation — one advances, the other retreats, slipping further out of reach and not fully present anymore. One pushes towards confrontation, which only chips away at the presence of the other until there is no wall left to push against, no opponent to address.
“Syndrome of the Absent-Minded” tackles the frustration of trying to make oneself heard by someone who actively refuses to listen. “A conversation with no end and no beginning”, outlines the program notes by emerging choreographer Elena Marinova.
The piece unfolds as a taut, thrilling duet for two dancers, the roles originated by choreographic collaborators Tzvetina Matova and Velizar Gruev. The movement is charged with tension, each moment of stillness deepening the chasm between the two bodies on stage.
Seated in chairs, their faces painted a blinding, cracked white, the two dancers resemble marble figures eroded by time. Their skin crackles, suggesting a conflict long calcified – one that has evaporated any remaining civility and resolution. The two slowly inch towards each other, weaving in and out of attempts at communication, each impulse disrupted by the other’s reaction. Their bodies convulse and avoid each other, as though each movement hits a raw nerve.
One dancer slithers away, evading the other’s force. While the work features a male and a female-identifying performer, their dynamic subverts traditional gendered partnering. The balance between them remains precarious at all times, their struggle beyond the domestic or romantic.
The choreography makes tangible the paradox of dialogue that leaves one feeling unheard. As the tempo escalates, one dancer repeatedly manipulates the other, the friction between them growing relentless. The soundscape by composer Martina Stefanova amplifies this sense of unease, weaving in distorted synths and spoken word for an evocative effect.
Then, suddenly, the one who cannot endure any longer chooses to break away beyond the familiar. A silent scream pierces a pool of water and reverberates throughout the audience, its full sound muffled —a final, unspoken plea.
