La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, located at 66 E. 4th Street in New York City, is hosting a workshop titled “The Body as Resistance: Duration.” This three-hour workshop, organized and facilitated by Rafika Chawishe, will delve into the art form known as “long durational performance.” The workshop aims to invite participants to question and reflect on the role and function of performance art.
The focus of this workshop will center on the director’s concept of “Barren,” encompassing barren land, barren bodies, barren ideas, and barren struggles. Participants will also examine how the viewer’s position relative to the performance influences the creation of the spectacle.
The workshop intends to push the boundaries of our understanding by exploring the relationship between individuals and their environments, as well as the emotions that emerge from this interaction. Through a series of discussions and practical exercises, attendees will investigate whether a performance can mirror the perceptions and commitments of the audience, and how individuals can use their bodies as canvases of resistance to examine their own limits.
Artists, students, and graduates in the fine arts disciplines—including dance, theater, and music—are encouraged to apply for this intellectually stimulating workshop. However, even if you do not fit into these categories but have an interest, you are welcome to apply. To do so, please submit a CV and a brief explanation of your reasons for wanting to attend. Applications can be sent to performancelab.electra@gmail.com. Note that the workshop has a limited capacity of up to 20 participants, but auditing the session is an option for those who are interested.
Rafika Chawishe, an award-winning actress and theatermaker, is known for her work exploring themes such as memory, trauma, gender, and post-colonialism. Her artistic practice spans multiple mediums, including theater, multimedia, spoken word, and performance art, all of which engage with pressing social issues.
As an advocate for children’s rights, Rafika has made significant contributions to supporting unaccompanied refugee minors in Lesvos, Greece. In 2014, she co-founded THE BLIND PLATFORM with Antonis Volanakis, which promotes collaboration between refugee and local artists.
Rafika’s accolades include numerous awards for her theater work, as well as performances in film and television. She is set to appear in the upcoming series “The Second Attack,” directed by Barbara Eder, which will premiere in January 2025 on ARD in Germany.
Her performances have been showcased in major cities such as Athens, Oslo, Berlin, and New York, and she has collaborated with prestigious organizations like the National Theatre of Oslo and the Maxim Gorki Theatre. Rafika has been recognized for her innovative contributions and has received the Ibsen scholarship and a Neon Foundation grant. She is also a member of the Lincoln Theatre Director’s Lab and the Young Curator’s Academy, continually challenging and inspiring contemporary theater audiences.
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is committed to supporting artists and all facets of theater. Their 63rd Season, titled the “La MaMa Beyond Season,” aims to expand efforts to develop creative methods and tools for greater access to the arts. This season will feature pop-up performances and installations in parks, neighborhood community centers, and online, reaching new audiences and artists from diverse backgrounds.
La MaMa has been honored with over 30 Obie Awards, numerous Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, Villager Awards, the 2018 Regional Theatre Tony Award, and a 2023 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Special Citation. It serves as a creative home for artists and resident companies worldwide, many of whom have made significant contributions to the arts. Notable artists include Blue Man Group, Bette Midler, Ping Chong, Jackie Curtis, Robert De Niro, André De Shields, Adrienne Kennedy, Cole Escola, Bridget Everett, Harvey Fierstein, Diane Lane, Charles Ludlam, Tom Eyen, Spiderwoman Theater, Tadeusz Kantor, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Meredith Monk, David and Amy Sedaris, Stephanie Hsu, Julie Taymor, Kazuo Ohno, Tom O’Horgan, Andrei Serban, Liz Swados, and Andy Warhol. La MaMa’s vision of nurturing new artists and new work from all nations, cultures, races, and identities remains as robust today as it was when Ellen Stewart first opened its doors in 1961.
The workshop will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11 AM to 2 PM.
