M1 Singapore Fringe Festival: Animalier

Animalier is a dance theatre piece that ties together animalism, environment, and primal impulse to address the concept of “human being as animal.” The movement of Animalier is inspired by a variety of animal parts (segmented exoskeletons, large wingspans, moist permeable skin, lumbering strength, scaly writhing fluidity, etc). Other moments of this work are derived from anthropomorphic morality fables, nature documentaries, and ensemble-based improvisation practices. Throughout the choreographic research we pose the question “How can we learn about ourselves through the behaviour of animals?”

Created in an intensive collaborative process between American choreographer, Megan Mazarick and four Egyptian dancers, this work merges Middle Eastern themes within a western aesthetic. In the expansion of this work, Megan paired up with Puerto Rican Video Designer, Les Rivera to delve more deeply into creating allegory between man and animal. The combination of video design and movement splices animal heads on human bodies and looks deeply into the beast within us all.