13 June 8 p.m. - 14 June 10 p.m.

Tese delle Vergini

Istanbul Dance Theatre (Turkey)

Mahrem

choreography and video installation Geyvan McMillen - music Mercan Dede, J.J. Palix, Y. Mangas, Y. Sheronick - with Sernaz Demirel, Aylin Ersöz, Nurhan Nebioglu, Tan Temel – stage design and costumes Dilara Akay - lighting Yildiray Karacayir - production RPM Radar CDP Europe,  Hayaka Fabrics, Yildiz Technical University

Kimlikler

choreography and video installazione Geyvan McMillen - music S. Vath, T. Unaldi - with Seçil Demircan, Sernaz Demirel, Aylin Ersöz, Erdem Gündüz, Seçil Kaynarkanli, Gökmen Kasabali, Elif Kevser, Nurhan Nebioglu, Tan Temel  - stage design and costumes Dilara Akay - lighting Yildiray Karacayir - production RPM Radar CDP Europe,  Hayaka Fabrics, Yildiz Technical University

There are countries in which dance becomes the expression of a commitment, of courage and resistance. Geyvan McMillen, pioneer of contemporary dance in Turkey after studying Graham and Cunningham techniques in Europe and America, has the courage to rip off the veil and to convey ‘the other half of the sky obscured and mortified by a return to fundamentalism that wants to see women suffocated, dominated and enslaved. The overwhelming predominance of a violent and prevaricating male, fearful of and aggressive towards the female’ (Rossella Battisti). Last year Ismael Ivo invited Geyvan McMillen to participate in the symposium Body Attack, with a work bearing a significant title, Breaking off the Veil, which was followed by a short performance with an equally eloquent title: Mahrem, or ‘the hidden’.

Last year’s fragment Mahrem, which has been worked on and developed, has now become a complete performance that Geyvan McMillen is presenting as a diptych with Kimlikler, meaning ‘identity’.

The creator of numerous choreographic works commissioned by various companies, Geyvan McMillen has chosen to reside in her homeland, in Istanbul, where she is choreographer at the State Opera ballet corps, whilst her personal commitment has been realised by founding the department of modern dance at Yildiz University (Istanbul). McMillen also has her own company, the Istanbul Dance Theatre, which she established in 2002.

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