Atlas

ATLAS is the latest physical performance by the collective ROTOR, a poetic exploration of taking responsibility in a hyper-individualized society. Where we collectively risk collapsing under the pressure of our glorified independence — carrying the heavens on our shoulders alone to prevent them from falling to the earth — ROTOR wonders whether another movement is possible. Inspired by the works 'The Burnout Society' and 'Vita Contemplativa' by philosopher Byung-Chul Han, this performance explores the questions: who bears which responsibility, and above all, what does it mean to share it together?

Amid the chaos of our fast-paced lives, ROTOR seeks stability and calm. What if this lies in connection with others? In an almost sensory experience, they reveal the beauty of shared responsibility. What if, unlike Atlas, we do not carry the heavens alone, but together? Perhaps the sky becomes lighter again.

The world of performance collective ROTOR revolves around the repetition of physical actions. The question “What sets ROTOR in motion?” is always central. This question highlights not only the driving
force and starting point of movement, but also the possibilities for deepening and transformation that resonate with the audience. What sets ROTOR in motion within the audience? Core elements include the body as a point of departure, the performers’ physical exhaustion, the audience’s physical involvement, variation within repetition, and the practice of meaning-making.

Hidde Aans-Verkade and Koen van der Heijden form the creative core of ROTOR as maker-performers. Both graduated from the Academy for Theatre and Dance (ATD) in Amsterdam, where a distinctive physical connection and shared motivation emerged.