EXPLAIN NORMAL

“There are normal ways to eat, walk, sit, speak and die. There are also not normals, not normal ways for everything. Not normal ways to love, to dance, to start a conversation, to cry. There are not normal ways to live. As we all continually evolve our idea of normal, we ask what makes us part of a society and who is included? OK let’s say it – there is no such thing as normal.”

Explain Normal unpacks the concept of “normal” as both survival mechanism and death making, as myth, as someone else’s truth, as a potent provocation for perspectives on society and difference, and how we value otherness. It is an original dance-theatre work directed by Daniele Constance, in collaboration with performing artists from Aha Ensemble artists from Phluxus2 Dance Collective. Explain Normal explores how these artists define perceptions of normalcy, through the lens of their diverse experiences.

Premiered at Metro Arts in October 2019, two week season.

Combining live and pre recorded audio, movement and verbatim; Explain Normal explores how this collective of artists define perceptions of normalcy, through the lens of diverse experiences. This exciting new work explores the juxtaposition of the artists, their bodies and identities; experimenting together to develop a shared movement language and collaborative practice across a rich and diverse range of personal performance histories.

Director: Daniele Constance

Choreographer: Nerida Matthaei

Performing Artists from Aha Ensemble: Allycia Staples, Megan Louise West, Rebecca Dostal, Ruby Donohoe, Mitchell Runcie, Kayah Guenther

Performing Artists from Phluxus2 Dance Collective: Charles Ball, Nadia Milford

Lighting Design: Keith Clark

Sound Design: Joseph Burgess

Photography: Jorge Serra