Yararacusú

Yararacusú was first devised by Oceanallover in 2005 as part of the Gaelforce festival in Dumfries and
Galloway. It is the story of a journey from confusion into clarity.

A man is bitten by a snake, the Yararacusú, causing his mind and his body to move in opposite directions. As the venom locks his limbs into rigidity, his thoughts become increasingly free and expansive. He travels along the river and out towards the sea, the land receding behind him along with his past life.

Joel Sanderson directs an ensemble of five musicians using vibrant sounds from China, Africa and Latin America. The dance element is directed and designed by Alex Rigg whose use of performance styles from contemporary dance and theatre techniques are combined with the courage and inspiration of Butoh. This production has five physical performers whose strong presence is amplified through exciting costume and settings.

The performance is made as a site-specific event that responds directly to its surroundings. By September 2007 Yararacusu has been seen on a remote beach, in a museum, on a busy shopping street, in an agricultural courtyard, in a garden, a university quadrangle, at an hotel and in a village square. Each venue presented the company with its own, unique challenges and each setting added something new to the story itself.

Inspiration for the performance came initially through a story by South American writer Horacio Quiroga. “A La Deriva”, which is set in the jungle at the border between Argentina and Uraguay. We have tried to give something of the force and energy of the river Parana in our performance, the river which carries the farmer away from everything that he has ever known.