'ITCH' is a two-piece project of dance maker Aafke de Jong. Is consists of 'ITCH I' en 'ITCH II'.

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'ITCH I' consists of two short dance films and 'ITCH II' is a live performance in which video is used not only as background for the performance, but also an antagonist of the dancer.

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'ITCH II' (live performance):

In this performance Aafke treats the skin as a fragile shield, a shell, between our thoughts and the outside world. The skin is said to be only semi-permeable (as an excretory organ), but external influences, such as stress, fatigue, shame and falling in love, are also reflected through the skin.

​In 'ITCH II' projected video images are forming a duet of seduction, irritation and struggle with the dancer. The video images are a metaphor for the encapsulated human being. We sometimes say or do things that we perhaps do not really agree with, perhaps bound by shame or fear or by pressure from our social environment. The culture that we are part of, or even the idea we have about ourselves again and again cause us to be in constant conflict with ourselves. Perhaps by sharing our stories and feelings we can become more at peace with ourselves and the world that surrounds us.

 

'ITCH II' premiered in October 2010 during the Dansweek Gelderland in the Schouwburg Arnhem and was since then showed a.o. during I Like To Watch Too (Julidans/Paradiso), Lantaren/Het Venster (Rotterdam), Bijlmerpark Theater (Multiple Moves meets Julidans), Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam (Rotterdam Dance Capital), Nijmeegse Kunstnacht (Gallerie Bart Kunst in Huis), Festival De Oversteek (Nijmegen), PindaKAAS Festival (Tilburg)