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A bit of a Mess, Really …

I was planning on slowly flopping supernaut over to a newer look … well, mostly the same old look but wrapped around WordPress’ default theme, so I could a) take advantage of all the fun new things like post formats, b) deal with some irritations of having slung supernaut through two or three platforms (WordPress, MovableType, and I think something else), and the general cruft of 8 years blogging and z) just because …

Slowly became quick because supernaut got hacked again. Not looking at you, DreamHost, too hard, but it’s getting kind of irritating lately. It’s probably not the very old theme supernaut is running on which is responsible for this, but having looked through the logs, gah! Keine ahnung!

So I swapped over to the new theme early. Severely unfinished. Much mess everywhere. Embarrassment? Yes! It’s going to take a long time before it looks all proper, like.

And this post was written using the Aside new post format. More of a Status really.

Fuck it, I’ve got six opened bottles of wine by me feet and a … what am I doing sitting all alone in the darkness in Alte Kantine Wedding?

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Yoga + Shibari at ImPulsTanz

Very happy to once again be making the journey to Vienna this summer, my fourth time at ImPulsTanz. Dasniya is teaching Yoga + Shibari in the third week, and I shall be tagging along to help out.

Shibari + Yoga
Week3: July 30 – Aug. 3
17:00 – 20:00
Aresnal F
ImPulsTanz Workshops 2012 – Dasniya Sommer

Nawa Shibari means to wind, to knot or to bind with ropes. It refers to the ancient Japanese practice to tie up a person and was originally developed by Samurai in the 16th century. Today it is a technique to play physically, to perform or to experiment with the body and restriction. The workshop combines principles of Yoga with the tying technique Nawa Shibari. This Japanese term is usually translated as winding, knotting or binding a rope. Today it is a technique to play physically, to perform or to experiment with the body and restriction. The styles in Shibari are noticeably versatile, yet one can say that there are basic figures to use ropes effectively.

A crucial aspect of this is the combination of functionality with aesthetic rules. There are particular shapes and angles to tie ropes, which create a certain look and a sense of solid limitation at the same time. This is comparable to a moment of embracement, which supports the body and enables the tied person to relax into the ropes. In this sense the material can be understood as an extension of arms. A firm hug.

By starting a 3 hours with a short Yoga practice, the perception of the body gets refined before we engage into partner work. The Asanas (Yoga postures) focus on the effcient use of muscles or on alignment of the torso, head and limbs. Rotation of the spine or balance exercises can be tried in variously challenging postures.

Then there is the Kinbaku side in Shibari which is more concerned with the biochemical or psychological effects. In Japanese tradition they speak of capturing a persons heart, to connect to the partners spirit or to touch them soulfully. This experience of fragile intensity can happen in both directions. The tying person and the person being tied can direct the scene from their individual angle. The notion of power shifts within the constellations and is often not as straightforward as it appears from the outside. To guide the mind in an enjoyable way and to bring it back on the ground is a matter of sensitive touch with ropes and care. To shape the figure from inside is an equally minimal and a seductive task. Beside the serious and almost orthodox way of Shibari technique there is an utterly playful and animal like experience in ‘play’.

Bring comfortable clothing, a snack and your own ropes if you have.

Dasniya Sommer

Dasniya is based in Berlin. Her present focus in choreography is ,Shibari‘-Japanese rope bondage. Her work gained wider recognition in contemporary dance through her solo performance MA√ 15 { idiosyncrasy } || sin x = ly – fx²¯, using ballet, meditation, and self-suspension techniques, presented by Tanztage Berlin in 2009, Arte and City of women Festival (Ljubljana).

In 2011 she was part of the artistic team in Roméo Castellucci’s staging of the opera Parsifal at La Monnaie | De Munt in Brussels. Dasniya coached Shibari for the theatre production “BurkaBondage” by Helena Waldmann. In 2010 she was invited to perform this piece in India and Sri Lanka. Initiated by Tudelisuuden Tutkimuskeskus the Museum of contemporary Art Kiasma in Finland presented Dasniya‘s participatory rope installation as part of the Theatre Now Festival.

In 2012 she continued to collaborate with the finnish theatre group.The first showing of “Archetypical Encounter” was shown this year at the Performance Centre (Helsinki).

Her research is strongly influenced by her theoretical studies in philosophy, analytical feminism and aesthetic, which she undertakes at the Humboldt University of Berlin. She reflects on questions of body concepts and ethics in her stage work as well as her teaching. Her current artistic collaboration with the performer and choreographer Frances d’Ath focuses on structural aspects of Shibari, without following traditional notions of gender roles and its fetishised aesthetic.

Dasniya Sommer (Foto Patrick Siboni) Dasniya Sommer (Foto Patrick Siboni)

Yoga + Shibari at Charleroi Danses Yoga + Shibari at Charleroi Danses

Table Shibari at Alte Kantine Wedding Table Shibari at Alte Kantine Wedding

Shibari Installation Brussels Shibari Installation Brussels

Dasniya tying Thomas Dasniya tying Thomas

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Yoga & Shibari May

Yoga and Shibari for May! The usual Wednesday classes, plus the now- regular monthly self-suspension workshop, and two things I’ll write about separately shortly: the installation performance in Berlin, and Dasniya and I at ImPulsTanz.

For English please scroll down/ Please forward to people who might be interested

Bonsoir liebe Kolleg_innen!

inspiriert aus Paris findet Ihr anbei unsere Maiveranstaltungen. Jeden Mittwoch geht es in Berlin mit ‘Yoga & Shibari’ weiter, sowie mit einem jungen Performance Projekt zum partizipieren. Es handelt sich um eine Seilinstallation für die wir noch experimentierfreudige Teilnehmer_innen suchen. Außerdem freuen wir uns diesen Sommer beim TanzImPulsFestival in Wien zu unterrichten. Für mehr Details bitte runterscrolen.

Herzlich,

Dasniya und Frances

  1. Yoga & Shibari Berlin
  2. Self-Suspension Workshop-Berlin
  3. ‘Jute Disintegration’ 
  4. Einzelunterricht
  5. Sommerprogramm

Foto: Self Suspension Workshop Berlin, in den Uferhallen TEATRIS / Alte Kantine Wedding.

1. Yoga & Shibari 

Dieser vierstündige Workshop kombiniert Yoga mit der japanischen Seiltechnik ‘Shibari’
Workshoptext
Yoga Der Yoga Kurs kann unabhängig vom Shibari/Bondage besucht werden.

Termine: Mittwochs 9.,16.,23.,30. Mai 2012
Von: 19-23 Uhr
Ort: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine Wedding / TEATRIS, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr.
Kosten: 20/15 Euro

2. Self-Suspension Workshop am Sonntag den 27. Mai, 14-20 Uhr. In diesem Kurs behalten wir die Seile in den eigenen Händen. Üben Aerial-Multitasking, das bedeutet Seil- und Atemtechniken mit physischen Intensitäten, Entspannungsmomenten und Kraft zu koordinieren. Und verwenden knotentechnisch traditionelle Figuren, sowie unseren liebgewonnenen Anarcho- Style.

Ort: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine Wedding / TEATRIS, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr
Kosten: 50/40 Euro. Anmeldung und Info: email hidden; JavaScript is required

3. ’Jute Disintegration’ – Eine partizipative Seilinstallation

Es gibt viele Leute und viele Seile. Einige sind verflochten/binden sich selbst an/auf/unter und um einen langen Tisch herum; andere seilen sich zur Hälfte oder gänzlich in die Luft/bleiben ebenerdig. Wieder andere haben Seile um sich drapiert. Zeit vergeht und diese Dinge verändern sich. Möglicherweise bewegen sich Personen an andere Stellen, suspendieren Körperteile oder landen. Spiel mit oder lös die Gruppe auf!

Wann: Sonntag 13. und 20. Mai. Mehr Infos zu Proben und Teilnahme hier.

4. Einzelunterricht oder kleine Gruppen können flexible organisiert werden.

Mehr Infos unter: email hidden; JavaScript is required

5. Sommerprogramm 

Shibari/Yoga Workshop beim TanzImPulsFestival Wien: 30. Juli- 4.August; Mo-Fr jeweils 17-20 Uhr

Im Juli werden wir vorraussichtlich in Brüssel unterrichten. Die Infos gehen asap raus!

Bonsoir chère colleagues et amies!

back from Paris and happily inspired you find enclosed the May prgram. Every Wednesday there will be ‘Yoga and Shibari’ in Teatris, Berlin. Additionally we are working on a young installation performance and are still looking for people who want to participate. We are also happy to announce that we’ll be teaching at ImPulsTanzFestival this year. For more details please scroll down.

Hope to see you there!

Dasniya & Frances

1. Yoga & Shibari

The workshop combines principles of Yoga with the tying technique Nawa Shibari – Workshop Text (english) May 2012.pdf.
Yoga- Yoga can be practiced independently from Shibari /Bondage

When: 7-11 pm
Dates: Wednesdays, May  9, 16, 23, 30, 2012
Location:  Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine Wedding / TEATRIS, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8 Pankstr/ U9 Osloerstr.
Costs: 20/15 Euro

2. Self-Suspension Workshop on Sunday May 27th, 14-20 Uhr. We will take apart the complex art of self-suspension. Coordinating rope technique, strength, breath, relaxation and physical intensities while being suspended with ropes. Using traditional tying figures and our beloved anarchic improvisation.

Location:  Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine Wedding / TEATRIS, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8Pankstr/ U9 Osloerstr.
Costs: 50/40 Euro.
Registration: email hidden; JavaScript is required

3. ’Jute Disintegration’ – Eine partizipative Seilinstallation

There are many people and many ropes. Some are tied/tying themselves to/on/around/above/below a long table; others are self-suspended/partially suspended/mostly on the ground; others might just have one rope wrapped around them. Time passes, and this changes. Someone/people might move from one place to another, suspend themselves or come to the ground, join or leave, form or disband a group.

It is an anarchy of shibari; repetition and difference. It is It is also somewhat baroque, or ‘dressed up’; something of an installation, something of a performance.

When: Sunday 13th und 20th May. For more information and participation here.

4. Individual training or small groups can be organized spontaniously.

More information: email hidden; JavaScript is required

5. Summer program

Shibari/Yoga Workshop at ImPulsTanzFestival  in Vienna: July 30th -  4th Mo-Fr from 17-20 pm.

In July we will most likely teaching in Brussels. We’ll send the updates asap!

Dasniya Sommer TEATRIS Self-suspension Dasniya Sommer TEATRIS Self-suspension
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Ophelia Doesn’t Live Here Anymore Photos

Some months already since the pan-hemisphere rehearsals of Daniel Schlusser’s Ophelia Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. I’ve been sitting on these photos for a while, and as spring lurches across Berlin – as well as some imminent Dasniya and I shibari adventures to be announced – decided if I don’t get them up here now, it will enter the region of unlikelihood. I think all photos are from Daisy Noyes (not sure about the first one, but assuming yes).

Ophelia – Suspended in Tree Ophelia – Suspended in Tree

Ophelia – In the Kitchen Ophelia – In the Kitchen

Ophelia – Flowers in Kitchen Ophelia – Flowers in Kitchen

Ophelia – Requiem for a Blender Ophelia – Requiem for a Blender

Ophelia – Suspense Ophelia – Suspense

Ophelia – Onion Soup Ophelia – Onion Soup

Ophelia – Fishbowl in Kitchen Ophelia – Fishbowl in Kitchen

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Reading: Janet Chen – Guilty of Indigence

Unlike Iain Banks, Janet Chen’s Guilty of Indigence — The Urban Poor in China, 1900-1953, has more in common with Gail Hershatter’s The Gender of Memory, and shall not be inhaled in a 24 hour period. It’s possible, but I suspect I’d lose any attempt.

I read about Guilty of Indigence on The China Beat, where the author was interviewed, and figured there would be a lot I’d find interesting. For a start it’s Chinese scholarship written by a women, and having spent more than a decade reading predominately this field written by men before discovering Hershatter, Susan Mann and others, it’s obvious to me my renewed interest has been entirely due to women academics.

Secondly, it covers an era that I find has in general been under-represented – certainly in more popular writing on China – being sandwiched as it is between the Qing Dynasty and Mao. Too often this is referred to as the warlord era – even Wikipedia does, (and it irritates me immensely I can’t refind the brilliant essay deconstructing the term in the context of its use in Afghanistan, as it is eminently applicable to China during this era), used to cover the entire Republican era rather than just the twelve years post-WW1 when the country was split under various military fiefdoms (cliques, hegemonies, etc). I don’t have an alternate suggestion for a name for this era, but I find not reducing it to the preconceptions inherent in the word ‘warlord’ helps to think and write about it with a little more subtlety.

As for the China part itself, Janet concentrates mostly on Beijing and Shanghai, which in general in almost everything I’ve read on China is what is meant by ‘China’; a cluster of provinces, Hebei to Zhejiang, and rarely further west than Henan. Yes, I have a fondness for the Southern Barbarians, and all things border-ish, so experienced small but not unexpected disappointment at absence of Canton in the index, though of course if any book tried to be even slightly all-encompassing when it came to Chinese scholarship, it wouldn’t be finished in this lifetime.

Anyway, it’s beautifully bound, the cover and layout are very attractive, and I think I shall take a pause now to begin reading.

Janet Chen – Guilty of Indigence Janet Chen – Guilty of Indigence
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Shibari Workshop in Paris

Dasniya may have got to go to Paris for the week, but I had Iain Banks (inhaled in slightly less than 24 hours). Still, awfully envious as Paris is somewhere I haven’t made it to yet, and imagine, spring in Paris (probably as romantic as a miserable head cold).

More important than my reading habits, for those of you in or near Paris, Dasniya is teaching a shibari workshop this weekend. All the details are below. (And another excellent piece of news shall be announced shortly.)

Salut, Dear Friends,

Below I have attached the rider for the Shibari workshop in Paris:

This Saturday, April 28th
Location: Point Ephémère, 200 quai de Valmy, 75010 Paris,
Metro: Stalingrad
Hours: 18-22 h
Registration: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Costs: 40 Euro

I am super delighted to teach for the first time in this city and more over in such a vibrant location!
Looking much forward to see some of you there.

Dasniya

WORKSHOP Techniques de Shibari à Paris .pdf

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Reading: Iain Banks – Stonemouth

Iain Banks Iain Banks Iain Banks! I can stop right there. No more to say, it’s Iain Banks! The one without the sandwiched M! Iain Banks, author of the best first sentence in the history of writing. A sentence so brilliant it doesn’t even stretch to the end of the first line:

“It was the day my grandmother exploded.”*

Iain Banks, who named the lead character of his first novel after me.** Iain M. Banks, whose Feersum Endjinn is my favourite novel of all, one that I resist re-reading too often just so I’ll enjoy it more. Iain Banks. Even his worst books are better than everyone else’s but two (Charles Stross, China Miéville as you well know).

Oh yes, I shall not get much work done the coming days. Evenings. Nights. Goodbye everyone, I have Iain Banks.

Iain Banks – Stonemouth Iain Banks – Stonemouth

* The Crow Road
** The Wasp Factory, ok not really, but …

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A Life Spent Searching – the Travels and Writing of Annemarie Schwarzenbach

It’s mainly the reason why every October I write about all the books I’ve read in the last year, that some remain in my thoughts. Isabel Cole’s translation of Annamarie Schwarzenbach’s All Roads are Open is one of these, as well as having the kind of attention to typography, layout, and design that … well, makes me less likely to spill a late-night snack in bed over.

Which is to say, it’s already near the top of everything I’ve read in the last six months. I also read Ella Maillart’s The Cruel Way and Vita Sackville-West’s Twelve Days in Persia as a result, and Annamarie makes them both read like spoilt upper-class nobs whose only talent is the distinct whiff of colonial racism – I kept thinking if I was traveling with them I’d be obliged to leave them stranded and be off with their car and money because that’s all they’re good for. Perhaps being hooked on heroin gave Annamarie an empathy absent in these others; it did wonders for William Burroughs also. At very least, her translation into english adds a great deal to 20th century Central Asia writing.

25 April, 2012
20:00
Dialogue Books
Schönleinstraße 31
Berlin, Germany

RSVP is required: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Journalist, novelist, antifascist, archaeologist, world traveler, the Swiss writer Annemarie Schwarzenbach (1908-1942) became a European cult figure following her rediscovery in the 1990s. At long last, her works are also appearing in English via Seagull Books.

To celebrate, join Dialogue Books as we host Alexis Schwarzenbach, the writer’s grandnephew and the leading expert on her life and work. He and Annemarie Schwarzenbach’s translators Lucy Renner Jones and Isabel Fargo Cole will also read from a selection of her works suggesting the breadth of her concerns and creativity. Lyric Novella is the tale of a young “man’s” love for a nightclub singer in decadent Weimar-era Berlin, while Death in Persia is a more open exploration of lesbian love and existential anguish against the background of 1930’s Teheran, and All the Roads Are Open is an account of Schwarzenbach’s epic journey in a Ford from Switzerland to Afghanistan on the eve of World War II.

ABOUT

Annemarie Schwarzenbach, born in 1908 to one of Switzerland’s most prominent families, published her first novel at the age of 23. Her friends Klaus and Erika Mann introduced her to artistic circles, and she scandalized her conservative family by living an openly lesbian lifestyle and supporting leftwing political causes. From 1933 to 1941 she took numerous trips in Europe, the USSR, the United States, the Near East and Africa as a photojournalist covering social and political issues, while also publishing novels and short fiction. After the outbreak of World War II she sought ways to take political action, helping the Manns’ anti-Fascist efforts, but increasingly succumbed to depression and drug addiction.

Annemarie Schwarzenbach died in 1942 in Switzerland following a bicycle accident.

Annamarie Schwarzenbach Annamarie Schwarzenbach
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Neue Seile

New ropes! Seven of them; they smell of kerosene and are about twice the diameter of my old ones, which have lasted me rather well over two years. This time from Arisue Go instead of Osada Steve, as I quite liked using Dasniya’s for the messy tying. Also several different lengths, including the black-tipped 10 meter one, which could tie up a whole room.

Arisue Go Shibari Ropes Arisue Go Shibari Ropes