ZoA – Zone of Acceptance

Zone of Acceptance is a dance of human and non-human animals and plants, a biological interdependence that offers the audience unexpected perspectives. An encounter with the other and a new togetherness. A place where the perception of space opens up an interconnected sensory experience. ZoA asks: what is this universal, aesthetic “larger pattern that connects”? (Gregory Bateson 1979). In ZoA the ongoing concern with attention, space, interspecies and audience, and the personal and political ramifications of this, come together in a durational setting.  

‘The interdisciplinary project ZoA developed by Barbara Berti and co-performed by her within a quartet, completely captivated me. On the one hand,the open space full of plants, four performers and four Chihuahua dogs had a special, I would almost say magical aura. Especially the handling of the small dogs and plants stood out, as I have not seen anything like it in this form before. All the participants: plants, dogs, people seemed to be on the same level, which was characterised by an extremely sensual and loving interaction. What was absolutely fascinating was the calmness and naturalness with which Barbara Berti went into duos with individual dogs, leaving a wonderful, sensitive, harmonious impression. It almost seemed as if she was hypnotising the dogs, as each dog had an incredible confidence in the dance movements and gentle manipulations. The result was a multi-dimensional, bizarre and mostly a very quiet or contemplative weave, which was accentuated in its particularity by the music of Simon Rose’s baritone saxophone.’ Ingo Reulecke, Professor of choreography HZT, Berlin. August 2022.

ZoA was highly ambitious, its lengthy development took place over several months and its processes were complex.

‘…When we first met, Berti told me the practice is deeply therapeutic for dogs, and I quickly saw this myself in the way Woody [her dog], who is an anxious and sensitive guy, responded to sessions with her, becoming much more open and trusting in his body. Berti works increasingly in shelters and with foster dogs to help them work through trauma and be ready for adoption. She works with individual dogs of all backgrounds, with and without their humans. Sometimes she meets a dog through this therapeutic process that will later become a performer-collaborator in her performance work. Cory Tamler Tanzschrieber Berlin. September 2022.

Throughout ZoA’s process and performance, there is awareness of how the work connects to the environment and people. The dogs of ZoA all come from workshop participants with whom we develop a strong relationship. ZoA is adaptable and designed to take the shape of the environment in which it takes place. In semi-public spaces, museum yards, and neighboring area to involve audience

Premier 25th – 28th August 2022 Uferstudio Berlin

Concept, Choreography, Text: Barbara Berti | Dance: Claudia Tomasi, Paolo Rosini, Barbara Berti | Sound: Simon David Rose | Light design: Barbara Berti | Production: Iaci Lomonaco | External eye: Rocio Marano

Supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK – STEPPING OUT, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media within the framework of the initiative NEUSTART KULTUR. Co Production: Ariella Vidach Aiep. With the support of: MiC- Ministry of Culture and Municipality of Milan – Culture Sector.

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