Our History
Karakatitsa Movement Collective
This collective was birthed from a desire to not stop training.
Eva and Ofri attended a Winter Intensive at Double Edge Theater, in January 2018, and they didn't want to stop moving. Eva posted a call online, and a small group soon coalesced. With the theory and methodology of Double Edge's work as a core in which we collected around, the group began to devise our own ways of working and offering other methods of training we each had experienced.
We wanted to improvise, make stories, and play. Play is essential in our work; we always play first and our work grows from this space.
At first, it was open training - anyone could come in and out, and there was very little structure. As a core group emerged, we developed a shared language. We began to notice characters and ideas swirling among us. What started as a really open space clarified into a tight-knit group. We decided to turn inwards and focus on developing some of our recurring themes. This was when we felt pulled to name ourselves.
In July of 2018, we brainstormed names. Vlad had a vision of Karakatitsa, the Russian word for a cuttlefish, each limb signifying a value we hold. He also explained a joke he saw in the formation of the word Karakatitsa:
Kara - divine punishment; Katitsa - is rolling...Rolling divine punishment.
For such a cute creature to have a bizarre name, seemed fitting for us. It became the way we trained with the depth of the existential themes that surfaced through our inquisitive, naïve, and childlike wonder. It captures how we move and approach our work together. We curated this playful space to invite hard material to emerge so we can connect well and hold it tenderly. Vlad drew our beautiful logo, and in Sept. of 2018 we petitioned to call ourselves Karakatitsa Movement Collective.
Over the years, people have taken part in the collective, trained with us, and then moved on to the next thing in their lives. The ones that have molded our collective and work hold a special places in our hearts - Ofri Rieger, Alan White, Sarah Morrisette, Bárbara Casseb. We have fond memories of those who dropped in once or twice, sharing space, laughter, and copious amounts of sweat. We wouldn't be the same without you all!
Since that first meeting in January 2018, we've met at least once a week to train. In person, flinging ourselves around the studio, smushing our toes together, exploring an evermore ridiculous assortment of props, and smashing ceremonial cakes. In January 2020, after years of dancing around larger stories, we devised Forest | Bear. An exploration of transformation, human nature, forces outside our control - and our first 'completed' piece. When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, we moved to zoom, with surprisingly profound results. We spent the next 2+ years pouring our souls into Svet. Light. Ohr, a story of Light, seeking, and rebirth.
The future is wide open for us. We continue to create, play, move, laugh. There are so many more stories to meet!
If you're interested in our work, want to play with us, please reach out!
