ΝΑΤALIA MANTA PARTICIPATES IN THE DANCE PERFORMANCE “PAINFULLY PAINLESS”

How does the body in pain move and communicate? Where are the boundaries between pain and pleasure in an era where the alternation between those two takes place instantly? The performance painfully painless seeks a sensory, pre-linguistic, unspeakable language, one that focuses on the mobility changes of a person in pain.

The ensemble approaches this subject matter through methods invented by humans for pain management, and develops the piece along two basis axes, one kinetic and one sonic. On the one hand, it focuses on the sensation of bodily pain. A body in pain moves in such a way as to always pursue and complete what is not there. It lives, organizes and regulates itself through memories from the time when it was “complete” and healthy. Its movement, presently elliptical, is realized every moment along with whatever is omitted. On the other hand, it guides us to listen to the particular language in which the phantom of pain expresses itself. Performers on the microphone recite mantras, words, instructions on pain management; they laugh, cry, breathe and everything is recorded, played back and gradually converted into audio frequencies. In this piece, the two aforementioned axes cross paths in multiple ways and instantly illuminate connections highlighting social, religious and cultural mandates on pain.

Let’s say: “a dance for pain”

dance research & choreography Androniki Marathaki • dance research & performance Elton Petri, Sofia Pouchtou, Despoina Sanida Krezia, Despoina Chatzipavlidou• dramaturgical contribution Steriani Tsintziloni• sound design | live electronics Jannis Anastasakis • sculptural installation | design & construction Natalia Manta • embedded systems Giorgos Roustas • lighting design Nysos Vasilopoulos • Costumes artwork: Frantzeska Mpoutsi • Light designer assistant Tzini Sakaloglou • artistic collaborator Eleni Mylona • collaborators Filippos Vasileiou, John Britton, Lida Diochnou, Mersianna Elefteriadou, Kostis Kallivretakis, Giorgos Sioras Deligiannis • developmental consultant Rallou Avramidou • production & management Delta-Pi • production Cloudsdonthaveshape • supporters of the dance practice “Let’s be comfortable in our own skin” Mykonos Biennale, Island Connect, Duncan Dance Research Centre, Unplugged Dance

Androniki Marathaki & Cloudsdonthaveshape
painfully painless
Piraeos B
1 – 3 July

A production of Cloudsdonthaveshape with the co-production of Athens Epidaurus Festival.

With the financial support of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports / With the support of NEON Organization for Culture and Development.

Within the platform grape – Greek Agora of Performance

More information and tickets: https://aefestival.gr/festival_events/epodyna-eykolo/?lang=en

Natalia Manta is a visual arts SNF ARTWORKS Fellow (2022)