“No Such Virtue” is an emergent playground of sharp edges, fuzzy corners, and buzzing thresholds. Two people navigate this landscape through slipping, slapping, and sounding while being confronted with negotiations of power and pleasure.

When you hit me, I am pushing your edge
My veins dilate, I get flustered

Your touch is helping me sense more of my selves
I’ll fight you if you’ll fight me
I’ll lick the sweat from your neck
But I have to ask for it
Why am I laughing?

This research is rooted in improvising with intimacy and impact. We ask: what preparation and (after)care is needed to consent to being “pushed to the edge”? Through this practice as performance, we are interested in developing modalities that can open pathways for transformation and new ways of relating to personhood.

Kristen Rulifson (“Kriss”; they/them) is a dancer and performer, director, and free diver. Kriss is a recent graduate from Dance Intensive Program at Tanzfabrik Berlin (2022) and holds a degree in Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior from the UC Davis (2014) and Expressive Arts Therapy from the Tamalpa Institute (2016). Their focus is on contact improvisation and contemporary dance with a specific interest in breakdance, partnering, aquatic research, and improvisational composition.

Mei Bao (they/them) is a Danish-Chinese musician, performer and dance artist based in Berlin. They have worked professionally as a musician and performer, and have recently completed the Dance Intensive Program at Tanzfabrik Berlin. Mei is currently involved in projects by Lisanne Goodhue (CA) and Kai Merke (DK). As a musician, Mei is a drummer/vocalist in the band Felines (2013 – present) and a performer/drummer/vocalist in the activist art group GP&PLS (2018-present), whose work centers around supporting refugees in and at the borders of the EU.

[Source: ada-studio.de]

TFB Nr. 1762