A Romanian - British Dance premiere

A Romanian-British collaborative dance performance choreographed and performed by Marie Gabrielle Rotie (UK) and Cosmin Manolescu (RO), entitled “Human Zoo,” took place at ArCuB Theatre Bucharest on July 30, 2000, at 8.00 pm.

The performance “Human Zoo” (Parts 1 & 2) consists of two solo pieces created in Bucharest during a residence that followed on from a workshop led by young choreographers Marie Gabrielle Rotie and Cosmin Manolescu, that explored human space and projected images.

“Human Zoo” explores the fine lines between animal and human, public and private, technology and everyday life. Part 1, directed by Cosmin Manolescu and performed by Marie Gabrielle Rotie traces a woman’s journey through shifting emotions and characters. Part 2, choreographed by Marie Gabrielle Rotie and performed by Cosmin Manolescu is an expose of the dark side of humanity.

The artists first worked together during an international workshop in Hamburg 1999 and discovered that they shared common ideas and interests. The third part of the performance, a duet piece jointly choreographed and performed, will be created by both in November 2000, in a residency in London.

But until then the newly premiered “Human Zoo” – the fruit of a hot midsummer in Bucharest – will also be presented on October 15, 2000 in the already known Euro Dans Festival that takes place annually in Iasi, Romania, and on November, 28 – 30 2000 in Jackson Lane Theatre in London, Great Britain. Also in May 2001, “BucharEAST.WEST” International Dance Festival from Bucharest will host the unusual performance.

Marie-Gabrielle Rotie is a choreographer and a visual artist from London. She studied dancing and visual arts in Great Britain and Japan, being influenced by Butoh dance. Her performances were shown in unconventional spaces, galleries and theatres, both in Europe and Asia.

She is head of the London-based organisation “London Butoh Network”. Cosmin Manolescu is a choreographer and an independent dancer who debuted in contemporary dance in the ’90s. He performed in Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and Romania. Since 1997, he has been leading the DCM Project Foundation, which supports contemporary dance development.