Androgynous and mythological creatures, as if creeping out of the unconscious, emerge behind an iceberg onto the stage. There is desire in us, it is what drives us, and it is always lurking there, never appeased. The six dancers get closer to each other and begin to move together as one in choreographed dance moves. Something seems to be pushing them towards the tip of the iceberg, one by one, yet the iceberg is to remain insurmountable.

‘We are standing on an edge, gazing at the bottomless precipice below, it beckons us to fall or fly. Our fears of the abyss have a special grasp on us, we find our horror of the abyss highly seductive. This is the reality of every new step we take until our feet touch firm ground, which is reflected in our bodies’ emotions. How much more pleasure can we handle?’, says Marion Darova. Freefall is this choreographer’s latest dance performance. She has made her name in contemporary dance with her exploration of femininity and masculinity, the relationship between individuality and society, with desire being a major driving force. Marion Darova manages to interpret all these topics with an unembellished, minimalist, yet highly charged approach.

Having graduated in philosophy at Sofia University, Marion Darova studied drama theatre directing at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. She completed the one-year Derida Port Derida contemporary dance programme in Sofia. She did a master degree in Artistic Psychosocial Practices and Psychodrama at New Bulgarian University. Freefall is her fifth choreographic work. She also does work with drama theatre directors. Marion Darova was the recipient of the  Icarus Award 2020 for Contemporary Dance and Performance for her Wo Man.

Icarus Award 2023 Nomination for Contemporary Dance and Performance