Luciano Cortés, Alfonso Barón and Luciano Rosso star in “RESET" for two shows at the Koubek Center Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29. (Photo by Javier Labrador)
Three Argentine performers use physical theater, movement and humor to explore a decidedly contemporary subject: the increasingly complicated relationship between humans and technology in “RESET,” at Miami’s Koubek Center on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28 and 29.
FUNDarte is presenting the work with Miami-Dade County Auditorium’s Away From Home Series and the Koubek Center. Alfonso Barón, Luciano Cortés and Luciano Rosso created and perform in the piece, which takes on technology, artificial intelligence and questions about what is real.
Luciano Rosso in “RESET.” (Photo by Javier Labrador)
The collaboration brings together artists with intersecting but different histories in physical theater.
Barón and Rosso already had a long working relationship through “Un Poyo Rojo,” the physical-theater work Rosso co-created in 2009 that has toured internationally. Cortés, originally from Tucumán, Argentina, followed his own path through physical theater, mask work, commedia dell’arte, clowning, aerial performance and contemporary dance before moving to Miami in 2018.
The three came together for “RESET,” creating a work built around a deceptively simple situation: three bodies are caught inside a system where they repeat, obey and function until something goes wrong.
From there, the artists take an idea familiar from everyday technology — rebooting a system when it no longer works — and apply it to people.
According to FUNDarte’s description of the production, the technological idea of a reset becomes a metaphor for recovering, adapting and beginning again after a crisis.
But “RESET” doesn’t put technology itself at the center of the stage. Instead, the artists use the body as their primary language, combining physical theater, exaggerated gesture, absurd humor and tightly controlled movement.
That puts the very human qualities of imperfection, exhaustion and vulnerability against technology’s increasing presence in the way people work, communicate and create.
Alfonso Barónin “RESET.” (Photo by Javier Labrador)
Celia Ledón designed the sets and costumes for a production that moves visually between industrial, futuristic and organic elements.
Each performer brings a substantial background to the collaboration.
Barón, an actor, dancer, director and physical-theater performer, has been based in Paris since 2017 and has toured internationally with “Un Poyo Rojo.”
Rosso, born in Buenos Aires, is a dancer, actor, director and choreographer whose training includes classical and contemporary dance as well as African dance, jazz and hip-hop. In addition to co-creating “Un Poyo Rojo,” he created the solo “Apocalipsync,” which premiered at the Avignon Off Festival in 2021.Cortés is the Miami connection. He has performed with companies including La Fura dels Baus and Fuerza Bruta and, after settling in Miami, founded Salvaje Teatro, a company devoted to physical theater.
“RESET” is part of the International Cultural Partnership program of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs between FUNDarte and Timbre 4.
WHAT: “RESET,” presented by FUNDarte, Miami-Dade County Auditorium’s Away From Home Series and the Koubek Center
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29
WHERE: Koubek Center, 2705 SW Third St., Miami
TICKETS: $20
INFO: 786-348-0789; fundarte.us
