What if we could redefine the meaning of greediness?
The Ex-change delves into greed as a primal force, one that has fueled humanity's journey from its first steps, reshaping societies, sparking conflicts, and cementing power structures. Greediness has been both a survival tool and a destructive weapon—an undercurrent that has influenced civilizations, led to wars, and continues to propel inequality today. But beneath its allure, what does greed ultimately give or take away? And if we freed ourselves from this drive, what would our world look like?
Each chapter of this piece will unfold through distinctive movement textures, using contrasting qualities of tension and release, speed and stillness, to illustrate the internal and external struggles of greed:
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Chapter #01: The Grip of Greed – Embodying the tightening hold of greediness on the heart, this chapter explores how it distorts personal values and intentions, with dancers moving in tight, constricted shapes that unravel only briefly before contracting again.
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Chapter #02: The Big Spender – The narrative follows a person’s journey from having nothing to possessing everything. Here, expansive, indulgent movements depict the high of accumulation, eventually giving way to the isolation it brings. What shifts in us when we finally hold what we once craved?
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Chapter #03: The Exchange – A pivotal moment invites the audience to consider: Would we switch places with someone else to gain their life or their wealth? This section uses partner work and mirroring to explore themes of envy, imitation, and the desire for another's life.
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Chapter #04: Laboratos – Through repetitive, mechanical movements, this chapter highlights the emptiness of endless work when driven by greed rather than purpose, representing an endless, mindless cycle that drains the spirit.
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Chapter #05: Final Equality – Closing with a potent message, this chapter reminds us that, regardless of status or wealth, we ultimately share the same end. Dancers gradually synchronize, their movements softening to symbolize the shared humanity beyond greed's reach.
Throughout, the choreography invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship with desire and contentment. As we conclude, we ask: What if, instead of reaching outward for more, we turned inward to transform ourselves? What would you do if you had the power to change the world? Would you choose to exchange places with someone else, or are you enough as you are?
This performance offers a journey through the emotional, physical, and existential impacts of greed, encouraging audiences to confront the delicate balance between desire and fulfillment, and ultimately, to ponder what truly defines richness in life.
Production Team:
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Company: D2 Danza
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Dancers: Bea Delgado and Pablo Delgado
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Music: Various Authors
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Costume Design: Bea and Pablo Delgado
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Concept and Direction: Bea and Pablo Delgado
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Lighting Design: Bea and Pablo Delgado
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Set Design: Bea and Pablo Delgado
