Waltzing Dervish
Simon Mayer and Ziya Azazi share their love for folkdance and spinning and for letting art and spirituality manifest through performing bodies. Even though they come from different backgrounds, they both use spinning as a technique triggering the ecstatic body and as a social and spiritual meditation practice. Observing the turning chaos on the outside with a peaceful and calm centre is not only a philosophic concept of the Sufi tradition but also a big inspiration for both artists. The exercises will include spinning alone, in a group and as a pair. For the pair-work, Azazi and Mayer will combine the styles of dervish, tango and waltz. Part of this sharing will be to create an awareness of boundaries. To what extent am I willing to surrender? How much control do I want to give up? What kind of embrace do I like? Where are my limits – my own and in relation to others?
born in Turkey, is a graduate mining engineer based in Vienna. He has been trained in gymnastics, ballet, performing arts and contemporary dance. In the 1990’s, he co-operated with several Viennese companies. In 1999, he was awarded the “most outstanding dancer of the year” in Austria. In the following years, he took part in a great number of European projects. In 1999, he also began to study Sufi dances on his own and he has since choreographed many interpretations, which have been presented in 50 countries worldwide.
is a performer, choreographer and musician. He was born in Austria in 1984 and studied at the Vienna State Opera Ballet School, at the Performing Arts and Research Studios in Brussels (PARTS) and he was a member of the Vienna State Opera Ballet. In 2009, he founded his band Rising Halfmoon as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Simon Mayer has worked for Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Wim Vandekeybus and Zita Swoon, amongst others. He choreographed several solos, duets and group pieces, which have been presented internationally. He received the outstanding artist award from the Austrain Chancellery in 2017. Mayer was artist in residency at Theatre de L’L in Brussels and he organizes the international art festival SPIEL in Upper Austria together with his association spiel. Simon Mayer teaches contemporary, community and traditional dance and voice techniques and he is a guest teacher at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.
Workshop fully booked, sorry!
This workshop runs from 10 to 12 October 2018. Total price: € 45
Within the scope of TQW Explore / The Ecstatic Body