ASK MY SHADOWS

"In the midst of this, the evening experienced yet another remarkable highlight. *Ask my Shadows* by Mirko Ingrao marked the program’s sole world premiere. With it, the audience finally entered that 'other realm'—one most deeply intertwined with human existence: the world of dreams, of the beyond, or perhaps even of true reality. Through a few whispered words, *Ask my Shadows* speaks of the fracturing of timelines, of transcendent space, and of eternity—concepts symbolized by pairs of immensely long, slender feathers with which Matisse Maitland and Hanna Becker playfully extend their arms. Those familiar with Ingrao know him to be a true cinephile. One can discern his cinematic sensibility regarding dance within this highly original work—a sensibility paired with subtle moments revealing that he has truly studied Goecke’s style: In the finale, Hanna Becker begins to hop—ever higher and further, unstoppably—existing entirely in the 'here and now,' while Maitland sinks into the shadows, thereby embodying a new past within the immediate present. More of this, please!" (Alexandra Karabelas, Tanznetz)



"With Mirko Ingrao’s choreography *Ask my Shadows*, the audience is treated to a world premiere—and arguably the most poetic duet of the evening. Performed by Matisse Maitland and Hanna Becker, the piece features four pheasant feathers as its sole accessories. Accompanied by the whispered voices of the wind, the work evokes images of letters, feathers, the ocean, and wings. The two dancers embark on a dynamic journey, transforming themselves into a pair of birds—magical, mysterious, and free." (Main-Echo)