A solo in many voices: Notes of Self is an intimate blend of intellect and emotion that opens new pathways to dance for children and adults alike. Playful, surprising, and full of movement, the choreography welcomes young audiences, including those who may never have been to the theater before, while inviting adults into a fresh dialogue with the radical spirit of Ausdruckstanz.

The work is inspired by Batchelor’s research into the diasporic history of Ausdruckstanz in Australia and his current engagement with children through the Initiative LUNA PARK in Berlin. Century-old avant-garde tradition meets the spontaneous movements of children and creates a performance that is both historically aware and radically present.

Children’s perspectives influence not only the movement but also the dramaturgy — what they notice, what draws them in, what they remember. The result is a solo that becomes a conversation across generations, bodies, and ways of seeing.

Designed for audiences of all ages, it is a performance that welcomes both seasoned dance enthusiasts and curious first-timers, including children, who are invited to see themselves reflected in its energy and imagination.

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Creatives

Lead Artist, Choreographer, Performer: James Batchelor

Dramaturg: Bek Berger

Composer: Morgan Hickinbotham

Light Design: Veslemøy Rustad Holseter 

Costume Design: Cote Jaña Zuñiga

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Credits

A production by James Batchelor and Collaborators in co-production with Sophiensæle. Funded by the Fonds Darstellende Künste with resources from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. Co-produced by the Initiative LUNA PARK e.V. as part of the program LUNAPARK.Residency Fellowships, curated by the artistic director of the initiative, Kosmas Kosmopoulos. Additionally funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.