Commissioned by Sónar and CTM, presented with Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, CORTEX — by the Kianí del Valle Performance Group (formerly known as the KDV Dance Ensemble) — delves into the liminal realms that straddle life and death, solitude and connection. Drawing upon extensive research into the remarkable resilience of the human brain — particularly the functions of gamma waves and the temporal lobe, which sustain consciousness even in the face of bodily decline — CORTEX unfolds in four distinct acts. Each act examines various physiological states. Emerging from the depths of the grieving process, this work highlights the profound implications of the human brain in the quest for existence beyond mortality.
The piece features dynamically evolving choreography and direction by Puerto Rican, Berlin-based artist Kianí del Valle, in collaboration with the Barcelona-based visual artists Hamill Industries and original sound score by Argentinian music producer Tayhana. The ethos of this project is rooted in fluidity and equitable collaboration, allowing each dancer’s unique history and interpretation of death to enrich the overall collective process. This dissolution of hierarchies cultivates a space where individual and communal expression converge, enhancing the potential of movement as a medium for profound exploration of identity and the codified patterns of intangible memories left behind.
