With Dasniya Sommer

Nawa Shibari means ‘rope’, shibari means ‘ winding or knotting’. This Japanese way to tie the body with ropes comes from the Edo period, when Samurais used ropes in martial arts.

Today it’s a sensual, performative practice for erotic play, or to experiment with the body. There is the emotional aspect ‘Kinbaku’. The rigger tries to capture their partners soul :) Air oscillates, power shifts during the ritual, and together you travel to a different plane. Zen moments mix with our animal vibe. It’s called rope drunkenness.

In this three hour workshop we start with Shibari basics and will  focus on the technique. We will talk about security principles and learn some seductive, playful tricks. There will be lighthearted one rope harnesses, and one more complex figure combined with sensual elements. It’s all about having fun!

Everybody is welcome, beginners and more advanced riggers/models. Just respect the group!

We work in groups of different levels, with also individual input. An easy going space with ropes, tea and chocolate :)

Please bring own ropes and comfy trackies. If you don’t have ropes, we can lend you some. You don’t have to bring a partner.

The workshop takes place at:

Katie Lee’s Place
Harry Koningsbergerstraat 82
Amsterdam 1063 AC

-> close to Sloterdijk

Sunday September 4th
Hours: 15 – 17 h
Costs: 20 €

Bio Dasniya:

“To my own surprise I became an international bondage star with my self-suspension solo Idiosyncrasy, and since than I worked in all kind of context from opera, puppet theatre to movies. I also keep on creating experimental (bondage) performances.

I learned yoga from my father, which I practice until today and combine it with Shibari and dance.

Teaching ropes at my Institut Sommer in Berlin, a laboratory for bondage, dance and art, to where I invite other artists. Always twisting the idea of bondage stereotypes I developed anarchic shibari, mixed it with butoh, animal characters, buddhist attitude, action painting and cable fixer installations.

And I jumped into the gender dschungle and tried to get away from the male oriented perspective.

With ropes I started off about a decade ago. My teachers were Osada Steve, Kamijoo Saki, Matthias Grimme, Arisue Go, Kinoko and also the choreographer Frances d’Ath.

I always liked making things with my hands, so it came to me naturally to get in the active position.

I wanted to learn how to tie with ropes, and it was somehow easy for me. And then came the macramé aspect. I liked the pretty decoration of bodies, spinning more and more knots between people. And it came together with my body history as a dancer: stretch and pain from ballet, minimal steps and backbends. And of course the drama. This was just the beginning of the path of the rope, my own Shibari Dô :)”

Blog: dasniyasommer.de/zurzeit
Photo: Tamandua, Caritia, KatjaKat @ Institute Sommer