Last month giving birth to my heart project together with Silke Schönfleisch-Backofen.
BONDAGE DUELL ist eine Begegnung zwischen Lafayette und Grill 2, Potsdamer Platz und Pankstraße, zwischen Ballettsaal und Justizministerium. Man könnte denken, dass es gar kein Duell geben kann, bei diesen so verschiedenen Frauen . Aber dann hat jede ihre eigenen Waffen, mit denen sie gut agieren kann. Es gibt Elemente, die an Kampf , an Competition und an Wrestliing erinnern, es gibt Gewinnen und Verlieren. Aus der Not findet dieses Duell eine eigenartige Form, man muss von einander lernen um sich duellieren zu können. Man muss sich helfen, aufeinander eingehen.
Man muss quasi einswerden mit dem Gegner, das scheint fast zärtlich zu sein oder verliebt. Das Wahrnehmen des anderen, des Gegenübers ist auch das Duell. Beim Duell bleibt die Zeit wie stehen, sie dehnt sich, man hört den Wassertropfen fallen und das Flüstern der Seile. Manchmal gibt es einen Flashback, eine Erinnerung aus der Kindheit, ein intensiver Traum und dann ist man plötzlich zurück in der Manege.
Tanz: Silke Schönfleisch-Backofen
Tanz und Choreografie: Dasniya Sommer
Sound: Martyna Poznanska Dank an die Techniker der Sophiensaele
Photos: Brian Morrow
A 178cm tall ballerina and a 114cm small female government official on a tricycle appear on the scene. An uneven fight. The weapons: rope, muscular bodies and a thirst for adrenaline. Using classical dance means and Japanese bondage techniques, Bondage Duell examines physical and social patterns of bonding, empowerment and constraint. A place where cruelty and freedom, fun and curiosity lie closely together.
Featuring the interactive contributions of a selection of unique and pioneering artists, the Nuit Immersive will be a night like no other. No seats or popcorn-holders, no stages or “fourth walls”, the Nuit Immersive will instead plunge you the public into the heart of the creative process and invite you to move around and explore this interactive performance as best you see fit. Advanced warning: here, the sign clearly states “PLEASE DO TOUCH”!
Date: Thursday, 25th May, starts at 21:30
Location: Les Subsistances • Le Hangar
Tickets: 8€ (Online tickets)
More info: European Lab
European Lab, Lyon — Nuit Immersive
3. Der besuch der verknallten Dame, Das Helmi & Theater HORA at Theater Bremen
The workshop focusses on traditional Shibari technique, basic and intermediate level. Inspired by my teachers Osada Steve, Kamijoo Saki, Arisue Go, Tamandua Ropë. We start with the basics and security principles. Learning initial knots and floor work patterns with a partner. When these principles are set, we approach complex figures and suspension technique step by step.
Dates: Tuesdays, May 9th, 23rd, 30th, 2017 (No class on the 16th!)
Time: 10am-12pm
Level: Intermediate
Costs: 20 Euro per person
10 class card 160 €
@ Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt – Wedding. Uferstrasse 8, 13357 Berlin. Entrance B
More info: Shibari Technique Morning Classes
Please call when you are in the court yard, in case you don’t find it, or the door is locked: + 49 174 393 70 49.
5. Private & Group Lessons
Of course it’s always possible to arrange another time for private and group workshops, sessions, choreographing ropes for performances, and other long-planned or spontaneous ideas. Drop me a line!
A 178cm tall ballerina and a 114cm small female government official on a tricycle appear on the scene. An uneven fight. The weapons: rope, muscular bodies and a thirst for adrenaline. Using classical dance means and Japanese bondage techniques, Bondage Duell examines physical and social patterns of bonding, empowerment and constraint. A place where cruelty and freedom, fun and curiosity lie closely together.
Dance: Silke Schönfleisch
Choreography & Dance: Dasniya Sommer
Dates: Thursday 18th, Friday 19th May at 21:00; Sunday 21st May at 19:00
Location: Sophiensæale Kantine
Tickets: 13€ / 8€ (Online tickets)
Kombi-tickets: 18€ / 12€
More info: Sophiensæle
2014 I dropped out of this project initiated by Bernard Garo and Eric Fisher, cause ‘Parsifal’ happened at the same time.
But we made a test shoot in Mallorca, trying to tell about the mythology of Icarus and Cassandra.. The nature was massive!
Most pictures here were taken by Frances d’Ath.
Markus Öhrn’s new piece the Strindberg drama Ghost Sonata, opening on January 20th at Nowy Teatr in Warsaw.
For this I co-prepared the bondage installation last month. Working with ten of the finest polish actors, and guiding them into self-suspension land. Awesome collaboration!
Not all performances start easy but still they can be fun! Arriving on Friday and rehearsing into to the night at the Glasshouse of the Staatstheater. What if the dancing bike unexpectedly doesn’t run across the dance floor?
What is wonderful condition for dancers, turned out to be a nightmare for our Silke. Sticking to the ground, rubber wheels on rubber floor, nobody there to help, except Burkhard on the phone with some precious Mac Gyver solution. Like always helping in the last moment. We found a compromise to reduce our frustration.
Our show was to be all about lightness and speedy movement, contrasted with calm bondage. Thats what Silke and I have been exploring for some month. Accompanied by Johannas sound and Florians live guitar.
Including scenes we ritually go through in rehearsals. It had all in it, tying my boy and Silke, and dancing ballet.
The café scene, cause there is much fascinating stuff Silke has to tell, especially when it comes to her experience and life as small states persecutor. But it is not only her size that make things different and challenge me to find bondage alternatives. There are other bodily conditions which on one hand are restrictions, but on the other hand give us unique choreographic possibilities. Like her powerful lower arms, or air bondage with only one suspension chord :)
It was the first time showing this material to the public. Still a bit fragile, but people appreciated the mediative process (some got nervous, but ok ;)
Overall I think it was a good step for us, and against all odds I much look forward to continue!
