Narcissus

Exploring narcissism through dance
Narcissus is a captivating dance monodrama that explores the fragile and often turbulent interplay - or even absence - of love and self-love, inspired by the timeless myth of Narcissus and Echo. This striking piece delves deep into the inner mirror labyrinth of the human psyche, revealing the multi-layered dynamics of narcissism with poetic nuance. The choreography draws on tarot archetypes and illuminates the struggle for self-awareness, transformation and liberation from the spell of narcissistic entanglements.
The production has been highly praised by Hungary's leading cultural critics: Papageno.hu emphasizes the profound psychological insight and emotional intensity, while Magyar Nemzet celebrates it as a groundbreaking interpretation - "We have never experienced narcissism through dance in such a stirring way."
The creation of the piece is the expression of a unique creative dialog: István Simon worked closely with the renowned choreographer and director Yvette Bozsik. Together they developed a choreography in numerous improvisational phases that seamlessly combines Western improvisational techniques with Bozsik's striking, powerful movement language. The result is an innovative, completely original dance language full of expressive vitality.
The approximately 65-minute performance is artfully structured by interview passages in which personalities who have personally been confronted with narcissism have their say. These interlinked narratives create mood changes, scenic transitions and accompany stage redesigns and costume changes, enriching the theatrical complexity.
Thematically, Narcissus looks into the heart of the myth - the fragile balance of love and self-centeredness - and paints a multi-layered picture of people with narcissistic traits, an issue that plays a major role in today's society. Inspired by a psychological study by Kristina Barcs, the narrative structure is characterized by tarot archetypes - the Fool, the Devil, the Magician, the Hermit and the Hanged Man - whose symbolism is reflected in the choreography, stage design and music.
With the support of the Stuttgart Liszt Institute, Narziss invites its audience to an intimate, thought-provoking encounter with timeless myth and modern psychology, illuminated by the power and poetry of dance.