FALL AND RECOVER
A dance by John Scott and 13 survivors of torture from ten countries
Choreography: John Scott
Choreographic assistants: Philip Connaughton, Aisling Doyle
Live Music composed and performed by Rossa O’Snodaigh of KÍLA
Lighting: Eamon Fox
Premiered at Project Arts Centre, Dublin, June 26 2004, for UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Commissioned by Spirasi, the Centre for Care for Survivors of Torture, Dublin
Funded by the Arts Council
"We are fallen. We have come up. When you get the chance to move on, we move on. It is
essential that someone has to lift you up – when you get up you can help the next person up."
A survivor of torture from Fall and Recover.
John Scott’s 'Fall and Recover' is a weaving of material created by Scott with survivors of torture from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. In 'Fall and Recover' the personal experiences of 13 survivors are transformed into a non-narrative dance with the memories, stories and emotional responses suggested rather than literally expressed. While there are words, sung phrases, and a music score, it is through the language of the body that the terrifying and uplifting stories are told. The power is in the simplicity of the movement: a single gesture, a shrug of the shoulder, or a raised arm intimates compassion, hope, great violence or great love. The material carries huge imprints from the dancer’s personalities.
Presented at Dublin Dance Festival and Ellen Stewart Theater at La MaMa, New York, 'Fall and Recover' is the result of John Scott’s collaboration with Spirasi, the Centre for the Care for Survivors of Torture in Dublin, where he conducted dance workshops for victims of torture who were offered asylum in Ireland. Movement was a means to heal, to release, transform and share experiences still too brutal to speak about. John Scott has conducted dance workshops at Spirasi since 2003. He also successfully challenged several Irish Government deportation orders. Speaking of his experiences with Spirasi clients, Scott says: “What blows me away is their dignity. They are survivors, positive, optimistic and forward looking. They have lost their homes, careers and families. They are making new lives. They are so hungry and motivated."
TOUR
2012
June 26: Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, for UN International Day in Memory of Victims of Torture, Dublin, Ireland
2011
March 24–April 10: Ellen Stewart Theatre, La MaMa, New York, Imagine Ireland Festival, USA
2009
May 14–16: Project Arts Centre, Dublin Dance Festival, Ireland
2006
Feb 7: Garage Theatre, Monaghan, Ireland | Feb 9: Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny, Ireland | Feb 10: Roscommon Arts Centre, Ireland
Feb 14: Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Ireland | Feb 16: Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland | April 8: Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, Ireland
2005
March 8–12, Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland | February 14, NUIG, Galway, Ireland
2004
June 25-26: Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland | September: SFX City Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
PRESS
‘Fall and Recover… may well be the most beautiful work created by Scott to date. It invokes hope and togetherness … there is much joy in the performance… Fall and Recover is urgent, uplifting and deeply humbling and beautiful’ | Patrick Brennan/Irish Examiner
The Village Voice: Review by Deborah Jowitt, 2011
The Irish Times: Making moves to survive torture by Arminta Wallace
The Irish Times: Getting the globe to dance to the same groove by Christine Madden, 2003
New Hibernia: Review by Matthew Spangler, 2006
John Scott interview on La MaMa website