Alphabets of Flesh

A poetic exploration of the body in diaspora

In the dance performance Alphabets of Flesh, choreographer and dancer Roshanak Morrowatian makes tangible what it is like to be a body in diaspora. Together with dancer Mami Izumi, she depicts the fragmented experience of time and space of people who have left their homeland. The here and there and the now and then merge into memories and dreams. 

 What remains of your ancestry if you are displaced? What experiences – also from generations before you – are stored in your body? In a sensory journey, Morrowatian searches for the feeling of home. Where and with whom is home? Can your body be your home? Do you need the past to define the ‘now’?

Alphabets of Flesh creates a temporary home in which differences are embraced and uprooting is a source of strength.

Roshanak Morrowatian (Iran, 1989) obtained her BA in dance and MA in dance composition from Folkwang University of the Arts (D). She danced in the works of Marina Abramović, Pina Bausch, and Isabelle Beernaert, among others. In 2021, she founded dance company Rover together with Mami Izumi.

Rover creates interdisciplinary dance performances based on the fervent desire for a more harmonious society. Unnoticed details, invisible people and forgotten stories are given a leading role in our performances. With her performance Kites, for example, she gave a voice to refugee children and with House of Strength she transformed a male, Persian tradition into a paragon of inclusion. Her work has been awarded the BNG Bank Dance Award and the Dutch Dance Days Award, among others.

Credits

Concept, direction and choreography: Roshanak Morrowatian
Dance: Roshanak Morrowatian & Mami Izumi
Director: Nilay Ceber
Composition: Rutger Zuydervelt
Lighting design: Loes Schakenbos
Video research: Laisvie Andrea Ochoa Gaevska
Scenography: Isa Kasten
Costume design: Mieke Kockelkorn
Art Direction & Photography: Afagh Morrowatian
Outside eye: Suzy Blok

Production: Stichting Rover
Co-production: ICK Dans Amsterdam, Korzo, DOX, Intro in Situ, Parkstad Limburg Theaters & Nederlandse Dansdagen
Made possible by: Performing Arts Fund NL, Province of Limburg, Fonds 21, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, NORMA fonds & Gravin van Bylandt Stichting
Special thanks to: Le Gymnase CDCN, Toneelgroep Maastricht, Toneelacademie Maastricht, Abbas Morrowatian & Mahnaz Heygharnejadi

Shuttle AINSI

For the performances on Saturday 5 October at 15:00 & Sunday 6 October at 10:30, we offer a shuttle from Theater aan het Vrijthof to AINSI.

Saturday 5 October
You will be picked up from Theater aan het Vrijthof at 14:30 and returned at 16:15.

Sunday 6 October
You will be picked up at 10:00 am at Theater aan het Vrijthof and brought back to the theatre at 11:35 am where you can visit the performance Mi Pret'i Wowo at 12:00. You can also choose to get off at Kumulus and see the performance Hoop at 12:00.

Please note, only a limited number of spots are available.

Book your transport for Saturday Book your transport for Sunday

festival