the breakable us

Commissioned by Scapino Ballet Rotterdam

 

The breakable us blends athletic physicality with conceptual depth, exploring trauma as an inherent part of the human experience—something we endure, heal from, and transform through. Olivia Court Mesa’s choreography invites audiences to witness trauma not as something to be feared, but as a catalyst for growth.

By merging objects and bodies, the line between body, material, and space is blurred. Hypnotic in its approach, the breakable us reflects on how we support and challenge each other in shared spaces—a delicate balance between fragility and transformation.
 

Credits

 

Choreography Olivia Court Mesa
Dancers Clemence Perichon, Lucas Donner, Francesco Simeone, Pedro Correia, Gianluca Rodenghi / Sven Guyt
Assistant Koen Eye
Music Yehezkel Raz and Roey Hason
Set Design Zohar Shoef
Costumes Olivia Court Mesa in consultation with Petra Finke
Dramaturgy Merit Vessies

Light Design Jan Boiten
Artistic Direction Nanine Linning

​

Duration 40 min

A collaboration with RIDCC

Premiere February 2025, Theater Rotterdam

​

​

​

“Most striking in Court Mesa’s choreography are the myriad of ways in which she brings dancers together to connect. These are not simple, easy lifts. Instead, the piece explores different modes of connection—how two dancers may move through a sequence with one person’s head rolling on another one’s leg; how a huddle of dancers can form a vehicle to propel another to where they need to be. It is through these connections that

these individuals achieve transformation.”

​

Fjord Review about The breakable us