Napoleon D

A show about men, the internet, politics, sex. Oh, and dance.

Premier:April 24, 2008
DOCK 11, Berlin

Konzept, Regie / Artistic direction: Max Schumacher (post theater)
Medienkunst / Media art: Hiroko Tanahashi (post theater), Yoann Trellu(www.keyframed.org)
Choreographie / Choreography: Christoph Winkler, Martin Clausen(TWOFISH), Mathieu Burner & Nabih Amaraoui(Amaraouiburnerproject), Clint Lutes, Nir de Volff (TOTAL BRUTAL)
Tanz / Performance/ Dancers: Nabih Amaraoui / Mathieu Burner, Florian Bilbao, Martin Clausen, Christian Schwaan, Nir de Volff
Schauspieler / Actor: Alexander Schröder
Produktionsmanagement / Production Manager: Conny Conrad / Dock 11
Pressearbeit / PR: ehrliche arbeit
Website / Gestaltung / Foto / Web / Design / Photo: Hiroko Tanahashi
Zusaetzliche Programmierung / Additional web programming: aromapark media / Stefan Sahlmann
Medienpartner / Media partner:

> to Napoleon D website>

Napoleon D

The US movie “Napoleon D” narrates a story of outcasts at a provincial American highschool. The protagonist Napoleon Dynamite is a nerd. Normally the incarnation of “uncool” one day he manages to surprise his entire school: at an election rally for student representative Napoleon dances for the minority candidate to support him. This dance scene enchants with its bizarre sexyness. For whatever reason - this scene became one of the most often watched dance sequences on the internet. More than 8 million people watched it on YouTube alone.

post theater has invited 5 choreographers to research this pop-cultural phenomenon and interpret Napoleon’s dance. The rules are as easy as they are strict: every choreographer has exactly 10 minutes performance time, not more than two performers and very limited light and stage design options. The scenes will deal with the topics at hand: masculinity, sexuality and the power of pop. And of course: how are pop-choreographies transmitted via film, video and the internet? The choreographers that will join the project all have their specific signatures and different approaches to pop-culture. Every dance segment is a re-mix of the same source material - Napoleon’s dance.

Inspired by the movie-narrative and just like the YouTube conventions - the performances will be not just put on stage but put up for voting. The audience will vote over their favorite piece. In addition this is an ironic spin on TV formats that vote for stars and the Berlin art scene where arts are in competition for recognition.
Promotion clips and the actual works of the collaborating choreographers will be uploaded on the internet - back to where their material came from first.

Timeline:
opening in April 24th, 2008
Show will continue to April 25th, 26th, and 27th. In addition, as many Monday nights following the opening weekend.