Riebensahm / Ahmad Haschemi / Hourmazdi / Christians / Schwenk (Berlin)

Photo: Mona Hempel
Photo: Mona Hempel

Biography:

Aidan Riebensahm works academically and scenically with decolonial and postcolonial theories and strategies. Golschan Ahmad Haschemi is a cultural scientist, consultant for education critical of racism and anti-Semitism, and freelance artist in various collectives. Banafshe Hourmazdi is a performer in theatre and life and an actress in film and television. Marja Christians moves power-critically on and behind the stage, among others with: Isabel Schwenk, who works as a freelance performer and theatre pedagogue.

Freischwimmen project:

SWEAT

Cheering and sweating, the performers develop an intersectional-feminist, twelve-excercise event from practices in which they feel like champions:

There’s dance and empathy, solidarity and compliments; in between they breathe and pay tribute to the heroes we have to thank for our knowledge of solidarity. With award ceremonies, video broadcasts and emotionally charged soundtracks, this entertaining sports event takes its course without competitive pressure, taking instead a critical look at the winners’ podium: For whom are positions available there? And who is a festival called “The Future is Female*” actually aimed at? A moving performance in 12 acts that makes you sweat.

Supported by the Capital Cultural Fund, the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony and the LOTTO Foundation. With the support of Theaterhaus Mitte.

Statement:

Through FREISCHWIMMEN we were able to try out new artistic and organizational approaches in larger groups, as well as deal with questions around payment structures, hierarchies, and working methods that incorporated solidarity. We sweated and toiled through a number of different residencies during FREISCHWIMMEN. Each day, a different duo was in charge of the day’s activities, including drawing up the schedule and leading a sexy warm-up. And we would leave behind a plant cutting to watch over things and make sure that the venue was continuing to be critical of power structures.

Performances:

Invitations and residencies:

Invitations

2020 CLINCH Festival, Hanover – had to be canceled due to corona
2020 Gessnerallee, Zurich – had to be canceled due to corona

Residencies

2019 FFT, Düsseldorf
2019 Schwankhalle, Bremen

Freischwimmen is currently supported by the network funding of the Fonds Darstellende Künste.

Freischwimmen was funded in 2020-23 by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media via the "Promoting Connections" program of the Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V.

Freischwimmen was also supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council.