Company Christoph Winkler: We are going to Mars – Sophiensæle | Independent Theater in Berlin
Company Christoph Winkler:
We are going to Mars
We are going to Mars
We are Going to Mars uses international video works to explore the history of the first African space program and how the reception of this story has changed over the past fifty years. In 1960, Edward Mukuka Nkoloso founded the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy. The goal: an African space program of its own to join the "Space Race" between the United States and the Soviet Union. On a remote farm, the "Afronauts" trained on homemade equipment. Together they created a rocket out of sheet metal and wanted to launch it into space on October 24, 1964. The rocket was to be piloted by 17-year-old Matha Mwambwa, the only woman on the team. The attempt to launch an African space program was taken anything but seriously by the international press. But hardly anyone thought of the project as a satirical commentary on the megalomania and absurdity of an imperialist show of strength like the Space Race. Until a video of the training surfaced ten years ago and triggered a change in perspective. To this day, it is not certain whether the project was a serious scientific endeavor, a joke at the expense of the colonial powers, or even a cover for a training camp for independence fighters. Either way, the term Afronauts stands today for a new self-confidence of black people, visible in the videos from the 60s.
Originally planned as a stage play, the company changed the concept and produced video works together with local artists in Uganda and the USA, which set very different accents. The Ugandan contribution, created with choreographer Robert Ssempijja among others, celebrates the spirit of optimism associated with the Space program and locates Mars in its own homeland. In contrast, Mourning [A] BLKstar and Symara Johnson's We are Going to Mars Suite is a fever dream that opens us up to new fantasies of space travel across formal boundaries.
PART I
DANCERS Robert Ssempijja, Denis Magezi, Lydia Kasirye Nanozi, Shane Munina, Stuart Etou, Davis Ahimbisibwe, Herbert Jovan Simbwa, Denis Lule, Dance Theatre Uganda, Umar Kareregga, Fausta Nakasujja, Joana Mbabazi, Joan Nakawombe, Shafic Walusimbi, Ian Elijah Ssenkungu, Richard Kasosi, Edward Jjombwe, Salama Natabi, Sosolya Undugu Dance Academy, Intare Performers, Walter Ruva, Moses Mukalazi, Anna Tracy Aguti, Martha Naggita, Prisca Atite, Noah Bemuka, Bosco Kitabira, Joel Kakande, Godfrey Natuhwera, Julius Musenze, Edison Musanje, Mario William Mayega, Edison Musanje, Richard Tamale MUSIC HHY & The Kampala Unit, Arsenal COSTUME GC Fashion Artistic Kampala Crew/ GRAPHICS, WEB DESIGN Anthony Okiria VISUAL ARTIST Joel Kateeba Uganda VIDEO PRODUCTION Teflon Film DIRECTOR, EDITING Teflon Moses FIRST CAMERAMAN Kino Musoke SECOND CAMERAMAN Mugera Spin Godfrey CAMERA ASSISTANT Ivan Clark Niwamanya PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Musoke DRONE PILOT Asaph Kasujja SOUND ENGINEER Brian Kisembo Delon Digital Imaging Technician Eric Mukalazi PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Ark Martin Kyaligamba Kisiti SET RUNNER Habib Mbogo
PART II
Director Symara Johnson Direction and Concept Symara Johnson, Christoph Winkler Executive Producer Symara Johnson Assistant Producer Kalliope Piersol Director of Photography Yasmin Josiah Editor Yasmin Josiah Music composed and performed by Mourning [A] BLKstar Starring Symara Johnson, Angel Glasby, Dava Huesca with Mourning [A] BLKstar Vocals James Long, Latoya Kent, Kyle Kidd Drums Dante Foley Trumpet Theresa May Trombone William Washington Guitar/Keys Pete Saudek Samplers/Bass RA Washington Costume Director(Brooklyn,NY) Stanley Gambucci Costume Director(Cleveland,OH) Mourning[A] BLKstar Production Manager Laura Biagioni Songs used in order of use Epilogue, Indoctrination, Terrain Discovery, We stayin, Celestial Bodies Super 8mm processed & scanned by NEGATIVEFILMLAND
A production of Company Christoph Winkler in co-production with SOPHIENSÆLE, supported by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds and the Senate Department for Culture and Europe. Media partner: taz.die tageszeitung.
Christoph Winkler is one of Germany's most distinguished and versatile choreographers. His work covers a wide spectrum of formats and ranges from very personal to political themes. Since 1996, he has created more than 90 dance pieces as a freelance artist. In 2024, Das Wahre Gesicht won the German theater prize DER FAUST in the category “Best Choreography”. In 2016, one of his productions received this prize again; Aloalii Tapu was awarded “Best Dancer” for the solo Urban Soul Café. In 2020, Christoph Winkler was awarded a Tabori Prize, and in May 2022 he received the German Dance Award.
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Jeff Musoke -
Jeff Musoke -
Jeff Musoke -
Jeff Musoke