“They performed what they promised” is an open air performance. Duration: 45-50min.
The title refers to a sentence concluding the myth of Iphis and Ianthe, which we are loosely adapting in the performance: “Iphis performed as a boy what he promised as a girl.” It also connects to performative expectations in the worlds of stripping and classical music, two areas we explored during the creation of this piece. In “They Performed What They Promised”, Iphis and Ianthe are situated somewhere between four brides, loops, pole dancing, Pergolesi, a strip club, the auctioning of human horses, and a sculpture of the sleeping hermaphrodite. We interact with the audience, playfully creating dynamics and navigating tensions. Throughout the performance, gazes are controlled, expectations are met or disrupted, and climaxes are edged.
Thanx to GGG we were able to produce this live performance based off of our conceptual as well as our movement and sound research under the working title strip4string. We researched connections, dissonances and harmonies between the world of stripping and classical music.
For the live performance we adapted & appropriated parts of the greek myth Iphis and Ianthe.
Invitation text to the performance:
"Imagination burns a thousand voyeurs. They see into the future while they watch me strip for the passerby's under the streetlight. Abysses forming in the shadows of cloth once draped haphazardly. Come to me and watch. Watch as my sweat drips down my skin.
Love had scorched both our innocent hearts.
Oh! part of my prayers have been denied for the world trembles in every direction (it did tremble). and the doors of the temple shook.
Take your gifts to Iphis, rejoice, with confidence, not fear! we fell in love.
Come through and watch me breathe, you are here and I am but a vision."
xxx
s,n,s,y
Photocredit: Ana Brankovic