As an artform, dance is ripe for dialogue with other embodied communication systems such as sign language. It’s this intersection that Jefta van Dinther explores in his new work Mercury Rising, which premiered at HAU2 in November.
Deaf artists Rita Mazza and Dawn Jani Birley, as well as CODA (child of Deaf adults) artist Lukas Malkowski, sit centre stage on concrete blocks, shifting their gazes in time with sharp lighting changes. Repeating gestures begin to emerge: fingers push palms, form fists, and draw lines and circles that reverberate through the dancers’ torsos.
This movement vocabulary remains consistent throughout, giving the piece a repetitive feel. The dancers’ committed performances keep things engaging, yet their open-mouthed, frowning expressions—together with blood-red ...
