Máté Mészáros: Mechanics of Distance – performative, participative walk

The participation on the walks is free.
The walk will start from Tranzit House, Baritiu str. 16., entrance from the Nameless Street.
Please arrive on time.
The walk will be guided, on English and Hungarian languages.

In its original version the spacing and movement of static and dynamic bodies, the arrangement of matching and mismatching systems into one space as well as the proximity between the bodies are in the focus. The examination of this happens through the discovery of the appropriate movement, which is the translation of abstraction to the physical body. The choreographer created variations for the encounter of bodies in the space, thus triggering the possibilities for free associations. The bodies put dance in the perspective of visual arts due to their plastic, ever transforming materialistic form rather than their performativity.
In the participative version of the performance the creators invite the participants to a very different experience. The movement series and constellations of the performance were translated into graphics by Balázs Fischer, visual artist. The drawings and the relating instructions can be found in this booklet. With the help of the booklet the participants of the 60-minutes walk can recreate the nine stages of the choreography themselves led by Máté Mészáros. The booklet offers the participants the chance to experience the walk by themselves – thus stepping into a quasi-performative role from the active viewing one.
The QR code at the back of the booklet takes the participants to a site where they can share their experience in the digital space as well: they can upload photos of the walk and the recreation of the choreography there.

Choreography and concept: Máté Mészáros
Máté Mészáros graduated at the Hungarian Dance Academy in 1999. After 3 years at the Szeged Contemporary Ballet he has worked at various European companies (CarteBlanche – Norway, Lanonima Imperial – Spain, Ultima Vez – Belgium). After his return to Hungary in 2014 he has created four choreographies – Hinoki, United Space of Ambivalence and Mechanics of Distance – this latter was in the Aerowaves Twenty20 selection. His latest creation is Through Light – an installation of light and bodies to be premiered at Trafó Budapest in November 2021. All his works toured extensively around the continent and overseas. He is a regular guest choreographer of various European dance companies and theatres and gives partnering workshops. In his choreography he applies a high level of physicality, regards the body as a structural phenomenon. He approach the body as a dynamic object and the space as an ever-changing scenery created by the counter-effect of objects, bodies, sound and light.
The walks are happening as part of the Perform Europe project East Goes to East.
Perform Europe (https://performeurope.eu/) is an EU-funded project aimed to rethink how performing arts works are presented across borders in a more inclusive, sustainable and balanced way by testing new touring and distribution practices and providing policy recommendations for a future EU support scheme. This 18-month journey includes a research phase, launching a digital platform, testing a support scheme, and designing policy recommendations.
Perform Europe is funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and co-managed by a Consortium of 5 organisations: IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts (https://www.ietm.org/en), the European Festivals Association (EFA) (https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/home/), Circostrada (https://www.circostrada.org/en), EDN – European Dancehouse Network (https://www.ednetwork.eu/), and IDEA Consult (https://www.ideaconsult.be/fr/).