PRACTICE

There are always new tools to play with in class. For the last two years, after baby pause, it was about finding comfy performative mind sets while training, and reducing ambition.
Or about a physical focus: getting the pelvic floor strong again for jumps, or shoulder alignment after hours nursing with a crooked back. Dreaming of spiral movement patterns, or meditating on contemporary principles like martial arts and Klein-Technique combined with classic technique. Changing attitudes as moving through formal shapes. I like the technical side, and once letting go of it the inner groove takes over. My body much enjoys visiting these same old training context in new stages of life. Less for mastering, but to adapt and transform the handcraft. And, taking the proprioceptive critic by the hand to stay in a warm conversation with bones even o-40. Big thanks to Jo Siska for endless sweaty classes and for opening a creative ballet space in Berlin, Studio für künstlerischen Tanz.

SHIBARI CLASSES JANUARY – BEGINNER WITH EXPERIENCE

 

Three open evening classes in January: Tuesday’s  7 + 21.1.2025

The course Beginner with Previous Experience is directed at learning the basics of Shibari/Kinbaku technique. We start the class intuitively by following individual impulses with rope. After that we focus on systematic management of rope. On body handling and safety principles: knots, wrapping and aesthetic frictions. The material contains a wide range of harnesses for floor work and simple semi-suspension. It is strongly inspired by shibari works of Japanese artists I learned from over the last fifteen years. There is time to switch roles to deeper understand restriction from both the models perspective as well as the complex skill set of the rigger. In order to experience sexy phantasies and meditative ties.
Haus Sommer is located at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt. The atelier with a tea kitchen allows for suspension on bamboo for four couples. The small group size creates an intimate frame to start exploring Shibari for single participants, couples and trios.

– Please bring soft clothes and ropes if you have.
– You can register alone or with partner. If you want to join alone it’s possible to pair up with each other. We will try to connect single participants a few days befor the workshop, but can’t always guarantee. Many thanks for patience and understanding.
– At the beginning we suggest regular participation and practice to create a solid technical base.
– Costs 30 Euro per person.

Mail: workshops(at)dasniyasommer(dot)de / FB: haussommer / Insta: Kinbaku Haus / WA: +49-174-393 70 49

Hours: 19-21.30h
Costs: 30 Euro per person (max. four couples)

Haus Sommer is at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt – Wedding Uferstrasse 8,13357 Berlin. Entrance B6
Call the number above in case the door is locked.
Map here

In the picture: Eliko. Photographed by Werner Amann. Ropes: Dasniya.

Bunker Bondage

Joining this fun pilot project last minute: an interactive sound/rope installation at a former deep bunker in Friedrichshain from the 60ies. It was build for 250 people, several small rooms, and is now pretty run down and moist.
Both inspiring and irritating to bondage historical space, and during I was pondering about possible meanings. Is this how bunker architecture should be used, or exactly not?
But we only had two days. About the rope work it was most surprising that Keke and Wick managed to make the organic material sound. Jumping on the web and playing strings with fingers the audience co-created a sonic uncanny vibe. Thanks a lot to Keke (concept/sound) and Wick (cello) for inviting me. It was lovely to meet Taiga, tie with Natasha, and to add to Andy Buru’s ropy space ship.

 

QUEER ROPE 2024

Happy to announce that I will teach two workshops at virtual Queer Rope Festival by Karada House:
1. Shibari Spa – combining hot stone massage with ropes.
2. Plastic Coocons – developing narrative by involving material into self-tying.
All workshops take place online to meet queer shibari womên and our community from five time zones.
Thanks a lot to Caritia – I much enjoyed teaching together ^^ and to Karada House!
Full program and tickets here.

Autonomous Avatar Excerpt

Back to dancing Tobia’s Staab’s Autonomous Avatar at Planetarium Bochum. This time as solo. And no less adventurous to motion capture our creepy beauties (by Luis Krawen).
We experienced how fragile the technique still is. Big thanks to Warja Rebakova for translating my movement to the full dome. Where the avatars went their own way during our second show. They first obediently danced, crawled just as I do on stage as reference body surrounding the Zeiss Universarium IX projector ;). But suddently Sumo-ballerina jumped accross the dome hectically, flickering behind the emergency exit sign and didn’t reappear befor the show ended. These glitches and errors are most helpful with developing the piece further, but during the performance it gave me an massive sense of my tininess.

The next show will be in Berlin at A. MAZE festival / Silent Green on May 9th, 2024.

YUM YUM @ Open Studio Weekend

A dance performance for the Uferhallen- and the Berlin visual art community during Open Studios/’Frequently asked Questions’ at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt.

Dates: September 16 + 17,  2023
Open Studio between 12 -8pm
Shows Saturday + Sunday at 3pm

Whirlpools of packaging waste circulate in the ocean. Feminine sharks glow. Nimble hands fold oversize origami. Ropes become noodles, intestines, ghost nets. Care ballet and slow-food porn meet at the wok campfire of an Asian megacity. In a dance performance, the visual cosmos of a glutamate-soaked fast food world is unleashed. Hard-to-digest realities of life lead into absurd waters. A ritual that sensually questions Eurocentric views.
With the piece »Yum Yum« Haus Sommer investigates the connections between (culinary) cultures, digestive processes and artificial worlds. By reflecting on hydrofeminist approaches, following the idea that we are all “Bodies of Water”, an oscillating projection surface is created for a critical examination of anti-Asian racism.

Haus Sommer is the network label of dancer and choreographer Dasniya Sommer. In changing collaborations with different artists she questions and expands the formal language of classical ballet under the influence of Shibari, Body Art and contemporary performance art.

The process and the performance are created by the actor Michael Schumacher from the inclusive ensemble Meine Damen und Herren, the MMA performer and poet Fungi Fung, the eco feminist dancer Tara Jade Samaya, as well as Yui Kawaguchi, whose dance-choreographic approach moves in the field of tension between tradition, present, East and West.

Dance, choreography, stage
Dasniya Sommer

Dance, co-choreography, performance
Yui Kawaguchi, Tara Jade Samaya, Fungi Fung

Dramaturgy
Barbara Schmidt Rohr, Marie Baumgarten

Sound Design & Composition
Nguyễn + Transitory

Stage design assistence
Mark Schröppel

Critical companion
Juli Reinartz, Melmun Bajarchuu

Sound assistence
Deniz Khan

A production by Haus Sommer in cooperation with Ballhaus Ost and with the support of Meine Damen und Herren Ensemble. Supported by the process funding of the Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media within the framework of NEUSTART KULTUR. The Open Studio weekend is supported by Uferhallen e.V. and n.b.k. .

The Un-conference / Queer Rope Festival Berlin

Looking forward to teach two workshops at the Un-conference/ Queer Rope Festival by Karada House

14.9.2023  – ‘Forrest’
The workshop focuses on creating a tying session for trios (co-topping). We begin with a demonstration using intermediate-level ties and upline technique. As there is no obligation to strictly follow a pattern participants are invited to work on individual levels and intensities which feel appropriate to the constellation. Exercises will include playful tools for moving and restricting the partner in space. And for timing, allowing sadistic fantasies to gradually unfold, as well as care impulses to build a session-like scenery.
We will include objects and organic materials such as stones, green or dry leaves, and plants/roots. Some material will be provided, but if possible please bring it along as well.
Teaching assistants: Gloria and Jonas.

15.9.2023  – ‘Dreaming’
This light intermediate technique class is for people who like to give their shoulders a rest from classical box harnesses. The hands front position allows for a longer, sexy play sessions on the floor without stressing nerves. To add intensity the lower body can lightly be suspended.
Model: Eliko.

For festival tickets go here.