Umarmung / Embrace

With Umarmung (embrace in German), Elvio Avila offers an introspective and intimate point of view on mental health, invoking the power of embrace and the resulting production of serotonin – commonly known as the happiness hormone. Her relationship with Chuchi on stage, a young dog rescued from the streets of Argentina, gives a special colour to this creation, which reminds us of the importance of bonding, of physical proximity with others, and of the inexorable power of connection that can exist between living beings. Against a backdrop of nostalgic music, Avila questions our need to be one with others, and how this can affect the course of our emotions and even our lives. A touching reflection on the individual, the psyche and the relationship with flesh in all its beauty and complexity.