“Two people meet on a plane and wonder,
where do we go when we leave?
The flight is the transition.

—

“I need to make it work” is a mantra that goes on for years, when we are far away learning the art of constant adaptation. To keep on going becomes the only path towards a semblance of sanity. When are we going to stop?

Don’t Stop And You Won’t Notice explores ideas surrounding the flight of planes, birds, airports, nests, and the notions derived from there: belonging, distance, transformation, and home. With Don’t Stop And You Won’t Notice, the artists delved into an exploration of their common roots and re-signified elements of their childhood, together with the new landscapes which have become routine: planes, airports, the sky. The piece is an attempt to hold on to the known as a resource to prevent collapse.

Rocio and Jairo met on a 13-hour plane and only talked for 15 minutes before landing. Coincidence (or not), they are both artists coming from neighbouring towns and have numerous acquaintances in common. Both Argentinians living abroad, they joined forces to share their experiences of being foreign artists in Europe. They invited Eleni, a Greek dancer that has also lived abroad for many years. Strong believers that embracing difference is what makes people grow, the diverse cultures they come from and have seen along the way is the base of their work.

Don’t Stop And You Won’t Notice was supported by Dublin City Council, Shawbrook, and Dance Ireland (Hatch Creation Award), and presented in Dance Ireland, Dublin, in December 2023.