Developing Helichryse: Two Weeks of Creative Research in Portugal

Petrikor Danse spent the past two weeks enjoying a technical residency at Alma d'Arame in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, for the creation of Helichryse. A long-term partner, Alma d'Arame presented Habitat last year and, we are pleased to announce, will host the premiere of Helichryse in 2026!

The participants of the Helichryse workshop in Portugal

During the residency, we hosted a workshop with women experiencing menopause to further our artistic research. By the end of the two weeks, we were able to develop a prototype of the installation and invite spectators to an open rehearsal. The exchanges with the audience were rich, and we received feedback attesting to the success of the multimedia composition of video, sound design, and movement in creating an immersive experience.

Bettina was joined by Laurence Jobidon, the composer of Helichryse, and Aliénor Golvet, a technical specialist from IRCAM at the Centre Pompidou who is supporting us with the sound spatialization. Audrée Juteau Lewka, the scenographer, was also present at the residency and primarily focused on creating the bench centrepiece of the installation. Together, we covered the bench in cork bark gathered during our hikes. Sonya Stefan joined us virtually to continue the video-mapping design, while Bettina put the design into action on site.

We'd like to extend a special thank you to Amândio Anastácio, the artistic director of Alma d'Arame, and João Sofio, the technical manager, and their team for welcoming us into your space and contributing to the creation of Helichryse. The residency would not have been the success it was without your support!