Taking Silliness Seriously

What is silliness and why should we take it seriously? In this workshop we will examine the value of all that is light and ludicrous through frivolous interactions. Led by the examples of Monty Python, drag queens and banana phones, we will explore the importance of laughter in dark times, abandon the search for deeper meaning and instead take pleasure in embracing the absurd.

Anna Natt’s multimedia work explores the intersection of dance, performance and visual arts and has been shown internationally in theaters as well as galleries and alternative spaces. She was trained in traditional flamenco dance in Seville, Spain from 2000-2005 before moving to Berlin, where she is currently based. Although originally trained as a flamenco dancer, she draws inspiration from various somatic and contemporary practices, seeking to define and explore the aspects that characterize the flamenco body and the qualities of this movement in order to abstract them, simultaneously abstracting her own body. Using this method, she attempts to cultivate a deeper understanding of the body and its nuances. A connection to trance and dream states is also a central theme in her work. She was raised a charismatic Christian, a branch of evangelical Christianity that uses techniques such as speaking in tongues and receiving visions. Early contact to such mystical practices led her to experiment with several techniques that have brought me to the same states through secular channels such as Vipassana and Osho Dynamic Meditation, Holotropic breathing and experimental body work. This type of work has culled an interest in metamorphosis and transformation, communication with an audience on a visceral level and the dialectics of intimacy and how this hidden undercurrent manifests itself in everyday life. These experiences have been a source of inspiration for her artistic work.

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