ATTACHMENTS IN VIVO

ATTACHMENTS IN VIVO
A work by IOANNA TOLIOU
Corpus Lingua Dance Company

The new work by the Corpus Lingua collective maps the mother–child bond and the journey toward independence of being, exploring the potential influence of early attachments on an individual’s personality and relationships in adult life.

The performance highlights the importance of an unconditional relationship grounded in trust and security. From this foundation, self-esteem is strengthened, as well as the individual’s capacity to face life’s challenges with stability and emotional resilience. The choreography, music, and materials used depict the transition from dependence to independence, illustrating how the early experience of maternal care functions as a cornerstone in the formation of adult personality and self-confidence.

The work brings to light the interplay between early emotional bonds and the relationships one develops later in life. Will there be trust upon which a secure relationship can be built, or will fear of rejection and insecurity in emotional connection prevail?

“The type of emotional bond, as it is shaped during the early stages of a child’s development, decisively influences the internal image of whether one is worthy of receiving love or not, and consequently has a positive or negative impact on their social development.” (John Bowlby, 1930)

Through a scenic landscape of materials and bodies, the stages of the mother–child relationship unfold, along with the transition to subsequent emotional relationships, drawing on Bowlby’s Attachment Theory.

About the Choreographer and the Company

Ioanna Toliou began her choreographic work in 2017, presenting her own creations at festivals in Athens (Endless Time (2017), The Mystery of the Horizon (2018), Meeting Points (2019)).

In 2022, she founded the dance company Corpus Lingua and premiered the company’s first production, Autopilot…off, at the Young Artists Festival in Athens. The work was also presented at the Zante Dance Festival the same year.

In 2023, she launched the company’s second production, Seven to Infinity, supported by the organization EKTOS ORION. The piece premiered in March 2024 and was selected for the Kythnos Arts Festival and the Kolonos Festival. It continued with a new cycle of performances in Athens (Plyfa Theatre) and at the Theatrical Sympaignia in Ioannina, featuring a renewed cast and updated material.

In this production, Toliou turns to a new theme, drawing on personal experiences to highlight the contemporary crisis of institutions and values.

Duration: 50’