Like a river runs through us

Curated by a.k.a Festival, performance in German

How is class reflected within bodies? This performance brings close attention to the lives of first-generation Korean immigrants, particularly those who came to West Germany as female nurses during 1960 and 1970 under guest worker contracts. The performance weaves together personal stories and historical narratives, incorporating the oral transmission of the stories, dances, and songs from a group of retired female nurses who have been dancing together for four decades in Berlin. Their dance serves as a form of solidarity and resilience amidst the challenges of caregiving and relentless labor. The four amateur dancers share autobiographical stories of assimilation, marginalization, isolation stemming from language, cultural, and class barriers. Offering an intimate experience where the audience sits alongside the performers, becoming listeners and witnesses, the performance questions the dominant Western narratives in contemporary art and exposes the classism inherent in the art scene.

Concept / Choreography: Jee-Ae Lim
Dramaturgy: Sang Hwa Nam
Video: Jae-Pyung Park
Story / Performance: Kyong Soo Shin Nolte, Ok Hi Kim-Wehnes, Keh-Sook Sin-Hermeneit, Hwa-Cha Schwabe