Are corporeal techniques part and parcel of what we call culture? Or does culture only arise out of their performance? How do we generate knowledge through shared corporeal practices? And how is knowledge production connected with power? “Encounters – Embodied Practices” is a new series developed by Radialsystem together with Associate Curators Raphael Moussa Hillebrand, Rocío Marano, Sandhya Daemgen and Martha Hincapié Charry. “Embodied Practices” centres around the preservation and transmission of corporeal practices stemming from different cultural contexts and focuses on a form of knowledge production that begins with the body and experience. “Embodied Practices” is an experiential form of knowledge transmission.
In the frame of "Encounters - Embodied Practices". "Encounters" is a project by Radialsystem and is supported by DIEHL+RITTER/TANZPAKT RECONNECT, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of the NEUSTART KULTUR. Hilfsprogramm Tanz.
#7 Voice-Session: As part of "Nocturnes for a Society" by Myriam Van Imschoot & Lucas van Haesbroeck
As part of the immersive performance Nocturnes for a Society by Myriam Van Imschoot and Lucas van Haesbroeck, audiences are invited to two “Embodied Practices” held in complement to the performances. These sessions focus on the production of felt as a shared practice and the voice as a medium of community building. These two exchange sessions make up the next instalment in Radialsystem’s series of “Embodied Practices”, which collectively explore forms of preserving and transmitting corporeal practices from different cultural contexts.
This voice session offers a special prelude to “Nocturnes for a Society” for whomever is curious about voice and sound. Sound artist Myriam Van Imschoot invites audiences to experience the concretely sonic and auditory connections – not only among one another but within Radialsystem’s acoustics and spaces as well. This session offers a relaxed and open environment in which to experience the power of one’s own voice. It includes a warm-up and several guided group improvisations.
© Veerle Vercauteren
#6 Felt-Session: As part of "Nocturnes for a Society" by Myriam Van Imschoot & Lucas van Haesbroeck
As part of the immersive performance Nocturnes for a Society by Myriam Van Imschoot and Lucas van Haesbroeck, audiences are invited to two “Embodied Practices” held in complement to the performances. These sessions focus on the production of felt as a shared practice and the voice as a medium of community building. These two exchange sessions make up the next instalment in Radialsystem’s series of “Embodied Practices”, which collectively explore forms of preserving and transmitting corporeal practices from different cultural contexts.
The production of felt is an ancient process. Felting creates connections; it is a special moment of encounter enabled by its simple technique and the fact that is requires many hands to accomplish. In the open atmosphere that this work engenders, conversations may arise, and knowledge and techniques related to wool and the felting process exchanged and applied. Participants have the opportunity to make felt blankets, each of which are unique and special with their own motifs and patterns. The felt blankets will then form an integral part of Myriam Van Imschoot’s and Lucas Van Haesbroeck’s performance “Nocturnes for a Society”.
© Veerle Vercauteren
#5 foRest – slow medicine: Praxisformat mit Martha Hincapié Charry
Slowness as a healing process: deactivating the body with the sunset, leaving the burden of the day behind – “foRest – slow medicine” opens a space of deceleration. Artist Martha Hincapié Charry carves out an evening space dedicated to slowing down and regeneration, inviting us to reflect upon the connection between the current crisis of our natural resources and our relationship to a moment’s pause.
“foRest – slow medicine” is open to all interested parties; BIPoC are especially welcome. Participants will be passively involved; a basic openness to being barefoot and coming into contact with the earth is desired.
© Liliana Merizalde
#4 Moving Through Emergencies: Workshop with Thiago Granato
In the fourth instalment of Radialsystem’s practice and dialogue series “Encounters – Embodied Practices”, Brazilian choreographer Thiago Granato issues an invitation to an early morning communal body practice with “Moving through Emergencies”, inspired by a ritual of the Txucarramãe, an indigenous people in Brazil. His methodology combines Kundalini Yoga, somatic fascia studies as well as a practice towards energetic body awareness, drawing from a Brazilian Txucarramãe ritual.
“Moving through Emergencies” is designed for choreographers, dancers, and performance artists who are familiar with collaborative processes of creation. Participants should eat only a light meal before the workshop, as some of the breathing exercises may put pressure on the stomach.
© Sebastian Gabsch
#3 Vocal Practices: Praxis- und Dialogformat mit Peny Chan und Rully Shabara
#2 Matria – Motherland: Workshop with Rocío Marano
Malambo is a traditional Argentine gaucho dance: this rhythm-based step dance is performed without melody or text and traditionally by men. The workshop "Matria – Motherland", the second in Radialsystem's series "Encounters – Embodied Practices", Berlin-based Argentine dancer, performer and video artist Rocio Marano invites audiences to become acquainted with the rhythms of Malambo: the thunderous stamping of the step dance – "zapateo" – juxtaposes with rhythmic movements driven by the Bombo Legüero, an Argentine drum. Alongside practical aspects of dance, the workshop will also tackle theoretical questions: how can the popular and traditional sounds and rhythms of Malambo be liberated from a folklorist perspective and be understood as more than just a patriarchal concept?
This second workshop "Matria – Motherland" is designed for people with and without experience in dance; it is open for everyone who has an interest in rhythm and dance – who might also have fun being part of a drum ensemble for an afternoon.
#1 Urban Practices Workshop mit Anja Jadryschnikova, Prince Ofori und Raphael Moussa Hillebrand
House dance, breakin’, and Krump are all styles of urban dance whose language of movement differ greatly from one another, yet their origins and impact share commonalities. All three styles are rooted in countercultures as strategies of self-empowerment against a system of patriarchal, capitalist and racist oppression.
Anja Jadryschnikova, Prince MIK Ofori and Raphael Moussa Hillebrand are each pioneers in their genre. To kick off Radialsystem’s new series “Encounters – Embodied Practices”, the three artists host a workshop that provides insight into their dance practices and various approaches to collaborative dance. Whether it’s the Cypher (circle), the Soul Train Line or an interactive video installation, the focus always remains on exchange and togetherness.
“#1 Urban Practices” is designed both for specialists and participants in the urban dance scene, as well as entirely new audiences. There is no age restriction; families with children are also welcome.
© Phil Dera