Alliance of International Production Houses

“Natural Drama” speaks about the body as an area marked by concepts of nature and naturalness, challenging representations and constructions of the so-called feminine body.

Sorour Darabi finds the inspiration underpinning this examination in the lives and works of both dancer Isadora Duncan as well as Iranian princess, intellectual, author, painter, feminist, and women’s rights pioneer Zahra Khanom Taj Saltaneh.

Sorour Darabi employs Isadora Duncan’s choreographies as the foundation for a sensual and emotive choreography that is intertwined with textual layers that are sung, spoken, and projected. In a dream-like stage setting, accompanied by atmospheric, calm sound design, the audience encounters a dance from the future in the piece. A future in which light could be made from shadows, in which all things are connected in new, unfamiliar, and complex manners. A non-binary future for which we have held out for so long.

Originally from Iran, Sorour Darabi currently lives and works in Paris. As part of underground organisation ICCD, Sorour Darabi actively worked in Iran, performing at the “Untimely” festival, organised by the ICCD in Tehran, prior to his departure for France. During studies at the CCN de Montpellier, Sorour Darabi created “Subject to Change”, a performance scrutinising change regarding time and communion with an environment. This was followed by the solo “Farci.e” in 2016 which dealt with concepts of language, gender identity, and sexuality. Sorour Darabi’s solo performance “Mowgli” was dedicated to the jungle as the crossroads of contemporary myths. Back in 2021, Sorour Darabi already guested at tanzhaus nrw with the work “Savušun” as part of the Volume Up Festival.

Concept, choreography, performance and texts: Sorour Darabi; dramaturgy: Lynda Rahal; music composition and sound design: Pablo Altar; lighting design, stage: Yannick Fouassier; stage design, set and costume: Alicia Zaton, Marine Peyraud, assisted by Juliette Ritter from an idea by Sorour Darabi; stage management: Jean-Marc Ségalen, Selma Benramdane; voice coaching: Pierre Derycke; production management:  Deep Dawn Aka Association Mi-Mai.