PIECE DESCRIPTION:


"HYDRA TEMPTED"

Choreography / Music / Costumes: Karola Lüttringhaus
Hydra + : Dawn Shropshire Webster/Andrea Lieske
Hydra - : Karola Lüttringhaus


Inspiration for this work came from the Hydra in Greek Mythology, a many headed monster. Also, the word hydra is used to describe problems which cannot be solved with one measure alone.

In “Hydra Tempted” alban elved dance company portrays a woman that is her own worst enemy. Her monstrosity is her solitude and incapability for love and compassion. Hydra is in a self-imposed predicament: a desire for compassion, love and becoming more human but this is inseparably paired with an inability to accept change, an iron will and an unforgiving demeanor. Hydra cannot escape the struggles between these opposing forces, her two selves depicted by the two dancers.

The soundscore, which is a musical monologue by Hydra, contains spoken words in German, French and English. She says: “What do you mean to show me? Love, passion? Did you really believe that I would fall for that? Love is a lie and you made it up. Love and passion do not exist. I set the rules, I say what is true and what is a lie. I will never give in to another being; and I will never give in to myself, even if I wanted it so very much.”

Hydra allows herself to be tempted to some degree, but she ultimately stands in her own way, suffering a constant struggle within herself that renders her numb; she ends up dragging her doubts with her, never quite able to get rid of them, but never willing to concede them any real validity either.


Copyright: alban elved dance company & Karola Lüttringhaus

Supported by the Winston-Salem Foundation, the Academy of Dance Arts, The North Carolina Arts Council, The Golden Flower T’ai Chi Center, O’Kelly Design Studios, Madduck Productions Graphic Design Company, alban elved dance company, Dawn Shropshire Webster, the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh,…, and many others. Thank you for your support!