Performers and collaborators: niv Acosta, Cheikh Abmb Athj, DJ TYGAPAW, Justin Allen, Ashley Brockington, Bleue Liverpool
niv Acosta
Discotropic
- Tanz im August
Thought-provoking, unconventional, marginalized: niv Acosta’s performance series “Discotropic” engages in a critical interrogation of the racist representations of black bodies in the media. “Discotropic” connects science fiction and disco with the experiences of black Americans. Originally developed in the museum context, niv Acosta combines the most diverse genres with finesse, and transports the atmosphere of a club and underground performance into the space of the theater. As a point of departure for “Discotropic”, he took the sci-fi series Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. This well-known series featured the African-American actor Diahann Carroll – though merely as a holographic projection, depicting a supposed otherness to the other white actors. niv Acosta dismantles these kinds of stereotypical representations of African-American women in “Discotropic” through strategies such as repeating the provocative dance style of twerking until it becomes alienated from its typical associations – an appropriation and deconstruction of the movements associated with black hip hop: “People think it’s absurd, exhausting, and maybe shouldn’t happen for so long, but it’s about authorship and the black body,” says Acosta. His performance is influenced by queer politics and Afrofuturism. As such, niv Acosta’s activism is inseparably connected to the physical and its representations.
Originally commissioned by PS122 and previously presented by PS122 in partnership with Westbeth Artists Community.
This project was made possible by generous gifts from MAP FUND (Creative Capital), Jerome Robbins Foundation via PS122 and a successful GoFundMe campaign.
Duration 90 minutes
Cast
Dates
Past
Location
Sophiensæle Festsaal
Sophienstr. 18, 10178 BerlinThe Kantine is at ground level and accessible without steps. The Festsaal (1st floor) and Hochzeitssaal (3rd floor) can be reached via an elevator (1.76 m x 2.71 m) when accompanied by the house staff. To use the elevator please contact our evening staff. The distance from the street to the elevator is approx. 60 m.
An accessible toilet (entrance door 1m in width) is available on the 1st floor and can be reached via the elevator. It can be accessed via the Festsaal foyer. For events in the Hochzeitssaal there is a WC on the 3rd floor with an entrance and cabin door 81 cm wide, the other cabin doors are 56 cm wide. From the 3rd floor as well as from the ground floor you can reach the accessible WC on the 1st floor by using the elevator.
Wheelchair users and persons with impaired mobility are requested to give advance notice by barrierefreiheit@sophiensaele.com or ringing the venue at 030 27 89 00 35.
Further information: https://sophiensaele.com/en/service/barrierefreiheit
