Written on May 6, 2012 by frances

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)

Yoga + Shibari at Charleroi Danses

Table Shibari at Alte Kantine Wedding

Shibari Installation Brussels

Dasniya tying Thomas

Written on May 5, 2012 by frances

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

Yoga & Shibari Berlin

Self-Suspension Workshop-Berlin

‘Jute Disintegration’

Einzelunterricht

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

Written on April 25, 2012 by frances

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

Written on March 26, 2012 by frances

Onions (during shibari)

Yesterday we ventured below into Alte Kantine for another Sunday workshop. More self-suspension, excessive sugar, soup, and other things beginning with ‘s’. No photos of people tied up and hanging.

Sometimes I find the combination of light, size of the room, and my camera makes for difficulty in photographing anything. I like finding compositions that include several people and are somewhat tableau-like, but the background in the space is not so conducive to this, nor the lighting, nor that my camera goes all crazy-fisheye when I shoot without any zoom like this. All things that could be remedied with a little creativity (or by throwing euros at something).

Instead I decided to photograph some onions, ginger, either sprouting or withering on a very well-lit shelf at the counter. One thing my camera does very well is close-up under good light. Perhaps I shall photograph spring for a bit…

Still life — onions, ginger

Still life — onions under green light

Written on March 7, 2012 by frances

Anarchic Un-Shibari for March

(Absence of blogging lately … and potential laptop death …)

Dasniya has returned from Helsinki with images of mundane un-shibari, kind of a Last Supper rope anarchy. Being one step behind, n+2 dimensionale raum für n > 2 / anarchy of knots from Bains Connective has arrived on her site, with images from Silvano. Also, some images from Casa de Campo in Madrid last summer. Finland shall arrive in the future also.

As for March, more Wednesday Yoga + (un)Shibari, another weekend self-suspension workshop, and a small possibility of something else later in the month.

Liebe Shibarianer_innen,
anbei unsere ‘Yoga und Shibari’ Kurse für März 2012:

1. Yoga & Shibari Berlin
2. Selfsuspension Workshop Berlin
3. Einzelunterricht

Frühlingsnähe, Spring- und Fliehkräfte,
Herzlich von Dasniya und Frances

1. Yoga & Shibari
Dieser vierstündige Workshop kombiniert Yoga mit der japanischen Seiltechnik ‘Shibari’ Workshop text
Termine: Mittwochs 7.,14.,21.,28. März 2012
Von: 19-23 Uhr
Ort: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin, U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr. Kosten: 20/15 Euro

2. Self-Suspension Workshop am Sonntag den 25. März, 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, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin, U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr
Kosten: 40 Euro. Anmeldung und Info: email hidden; JavaScript is required

3. Einzelunterricht oder kleine Gruppen können flexible organisiert werden.
Mehr Infos unter: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

below you find informations on ‘Yoga and Shibari’ workshops in March.
Still trying to suspend gravitation :)
Dasniya & Frances

1. Yoga & Shibari
The workshop combines principles of Yoga with the tying technique Nawa Shibari. Workshop text
When: 7-11 pm
Dates: Wednesdays, 7.,14.,21.,28. March 2012
Location: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin, U8Pankstr/ U9 Osloerstr. Costs: 20/15 Euro

2. Self-Suspension Workshop on Sunday March 25th, 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, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin, U8Pankstr/ U9 Osloerstr.
Costs: 40 Euro. Registration: email hidden; JavaScript is required

3. Individual training or small groups can be organized spontaneously. More information:email hidden; JavaScript is required

Fotos: Aus dem Workshop ‘Archetypical Encounters’ mit der finnischen Arbeitsgruppe
Todellisuuden Tutkimoskeskus, Februar 2012

Helsinki Shibari

n+2 Bains Connective – 1

n+2 Bains Connective – 2

n+2 Bains Connective – 3

Written on February 13, 2012 by frances

Archeypical Encounters in Shibari

A weekend of workshops – two days of only ropes from lunch until deep into the night. After the Saturday self-suspension workshop, Sunday was for a completely different group, with a correspondingly different focus. A group of seven from a Berlin Tantric massage organisation wanted to see what of Shibari would come together with what they did. More knots and learning, some figures I’d forgotten, vats of chai tea, suspensions, Dasniya and I tying Lewis, another great pot of soup and more post-rope eating around the long table … The theme for the next monthly workshop might be Shibari and Food.

In the meantime, Dasniya hauls over to Helsinki in a week and an half, for a workshop at Todellisuuden Tutkimuskeskus. For those who are interested in doing her workshop, all the information is below.

Archeypical Encounters in Shibari
A performative rope research in Helsinki

When: February 23th to 27th, 2012
Schedule:
Thu 17-21h
Fri 17-21h
Sat 12-18h
Sun 12-18 + Showing
Mon contemplation + future planning

Where: Todellisuuden Tutkimuskeskus (Reality Research Center) / Suvilahti / Puhdistamo 6, II krs / Helsinki, Finland

Costs: 100 €, max 12 participants
Contact: Julius: email hidden; JavaScript is required / 050-537 4244
Dasniya: email hidden; JavaScript is required
More information: Todellisuuden Tutkimuskeskus , Dasniya Sommer

Utopia
What goods are at stake in a Second Life age of global mega bit exchange? Among billions of personal and more anonymous data, identities get suspended. If things were simply upside down, or inside out it would be an easy trot. But affairs seem more intricate. Seizing chaos literally. Rooting bodies airwards, floating into the world wide void.

Incompatible archetypes form patchwork communities and trench warfares. On the scout for oneness, traveling meditative galaxies, individuals become partially ascetic. Is the social task to transform and reduce archetypical existence to zen-zero?

The Method: Atheist Yoga & Un-Shibari:

Traditional Shibari settings operate with binary constellations like active-passive, men- women, dominant-submissive. One person taking control over a second person, by restricting and decorating them with ropes. Or: The Good and the Evil, The Beauty and the Beast.

What questions are needed, in order to move beyond these (gender insensitive) concepts?

-what archetypical behaviour do we find, and identify with, within the normative Shibari practice? why disidentifying with these figures? why are they enjoyable/can be problematic?
-towards what dynamic do specific type-constellation lead?
-how can rope technique be tailored, so that it becomes compatible with performative role models?
-what archetypical sensual/sexual patterns do practitioners decisively or unconsciously experience, copy, manifest or challenge in relation to their (sub-) cultural context?
-what concepts for semi-intimate relations allow for these kind of experiments in real life? (between romanticism, polyamory and asexuality)
-which other socially informed practices, like reading, dancing, massaging, tea ceremony, food can be combined?

Generating performative material:

-investing into stupidity, non-rational primitive actions -combining these with ropes
-self-suspension as subversive strategy
-adding archetypical performance to the rope work
-learning the traditional technique and finding new approaches -rope improvisation
-deviating dramaturgies within a rope situation: self->partner->self suspension

More meta-material to generate tasks/for Mondays reflection:

-avoiding second nature-shibari patterns or their (semi-)conscious reproduction -unjudging, indulging and exploiting them
-transforming the archetype
-talking about (care-) ethics
-being critical on Shibari/BDSM practices?
-finding formats for non-/participatory performances

Written on February 11, 2012 by frances

after the self-suspension workshop

Hours of suspension, sun and blue sky and freezing outside, chai tea by the tureen, leek, potato, grünkern soup (with special additions from Régis) … ropes and talking and hanging ourselves up, lowering ourselves off, warming up fingers and bones and lungs, eight or nine or so hours of all this from when the sun was around its zenith until far into darkness.

Many photos also, though the combination of dimness in Alte-Kantine and not such a large sensor in my camera made for extended runs of blurriness. Much happiness nonetheless to have beautiful Lewis come all the way from England for the weekend, as well as others who are not always in Berlin.

Tomorrow, with a different group, we make something of the same. Well, to say something with ropes. Perhaps not so much of suspension, and more of floor and other things.

The photos, then …

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 1

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 2

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 3

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 4

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 5

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 6

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 7

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 8

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 9

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 10

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 11

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 12

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 13

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 14

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 15

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 16

Self-Suspension Shibari Workshop – 17

Written on January 31, 2012 by frances

self-suspension and finland

The last self-suspension workshop consumed all of Sunday and even before it began there was talk of another, so happiness is to say it will be happening on Saturday 11th February.

Also unexpectedly one of the places I’ve long wanted to visit has fallen into my lap, and I shall be wandering north- and eastwards in three weeks with Dasniya for a workshop in Helsinki.

Self-Suspension Workshop in February

Am Samstag den 11. Februar von 14-20 Uhr.

In diesem Kurs behalten alle die Seile in den eigenen Händen. Wir üben quasi Aerial-Multitasking. Dazu gehören Seil- und Atemtechniken mit physischen Intensitäten, Entspannungsmomenten und Kraft zu koordinieren… Knotentechnisch verwenden wir traditionelles, und unseren liebgewonnen Anarchostil*.

Kosten 40 Euro.
Anmeldung und Info: email hidden; JavaScript is required
dasniyasommner.de

On Saturday 11th, 14-20 h.

We will take apart the complex act of self- suspension. Coordinating rope technique, strength, breath, relaxation and physical intensities in the air.
Using traditional knots and our beloved anarchic style*.

Costs: 40 Euro.
More information and registration: email hidden; JavaScript is required
dasniyasommner.de

Written on January 27, 2012 by frances

yoga + shibari regular berlin classes for february

Sunday, Thomas’ last day in Berlin, and post-breakfast a soup was prepared. By 1 o’clock, up-and-down stairs was occurring, on our way to the Alte Kantine for an afternoon and evening of Shibari and self-suspension. With only five rings (until we drag ourselves upwards to drill more), the dozen of us was a perfect number. Happy to see some faces returning from the end-of-year pause also, and two coming all the way from Sweden.

Dasniya started with some (gentle) bootcamp warmup, and then spent the first two or three hours teaching basic tying and harnesses for hips, legs, torso, then going on to full-suspensions and showing some more painful possibilities like the single-bound-leg inverted hanging. Dinner was all us around the table, which is why Alte Kantine is so perfect for these classes and workshops, with much talking about philosophical, social, feminist and gender issues in BDSM and shibari.

And so on to February, more yoga and shibari classes every Wednesday evening in the Alte Kantine, and a trip for Dasniya at the end of the month north and east to Finland to teach in Helsinki.

Jeden Mittwoch Yoga & Shibari im Wedding.
1., 8., 15.,22., 29. Februar, 19-23 Uhr.
Ort: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin,
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr.
Kosten 20/15 Euro
Workshop Text Deutsch

Every Wednesday there will be Yoga & Shibari in Berlin-Wedding.
February 1., 8., 15., 22., 29.
Location: Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, Alte Kantine, Teatris, Uferstr. 8-11, 13357 Berlin, U8Pankstr/ U9 Osloerstr.
Costs: 20/15 Euro
Workshop text english

dasniya self-suspended and reading

Written on January 12, 2012 by frances

Thomas & Dasniya Shibari

The last time I saw Thomas, he had a mass of dreads. That was in Adelaide. Last week he arrived in Berlin (though he was here in November also but missed thanks to one incorrect digit in a phone number), and we have been hanging around ever since. He is now minus hair, and has acquired a fearsome beard, and with boots is taller than me.

The last two weeks also, he has been coming to Dasniya’s regular Wednesday night yoga and shibari classes, and was so taken by being suspended last week he’s probably going to come back next week also.

This week Dasniya demonstrated a three-fold tying, starting with a more traditional figure, one from Arisue Go where the hands are in prayer position behind the back and the arms are bound , then lying on the floor and suspending a body part or parts, and thirdly our anarchic messy tying.

Thomas got lucky and Dasniya showed this on him, and then I got lucky having him tie me, later joined by Dasniya, and more than an hour and an half later was loosened from the ropes.

Some photos …