Sorour Darabi - Natural Drama

Since their first work Farci.e, Sorour Darabi (they/their) have been exploring the notion of transgression, with a particular focus on the potential of reappropriation. Reappropriation can bring to light what is masked by binary thinking: the hybrid myths hidden between left and right, man and woman, human and animal, good and bad, physical and spiritual, natural and industrial, ...

In Natural Drama they question the concept of “Nature” through the lens of contemporary environmental issues and from a historical and socio-political perspective, with all that implies for the body. Natural Drama is a kind of futuristic mythology with its roots in dance traditions both seen and hidden, preserved and lost.

Residency in the frame of Life Long Burning co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

TEAM:

Concept, choreography and performance: Sorour Darabi
Artistic advice: Thélia Merchadou-Pineau
Dramaturgy: Lynda Rahal
Light Design: Yannick Fouassier
Stage Manager: Jean-Marc Ségalen
Sound Design: tbc
Costumes & make-up: tbc
Executive production: Météores
Administration, production: Charlotte Giteau
Production, touring: Sandrine Barrasso
​Coproduction: Centre national de la danse – CN D Pantin ; Festival d’Automne à Paris ; ICI-CCN Montpellier – Occitanie / Pyrénées Méditerranée in the frame of Life Long Burning cofinanced by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union ; L'Echangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France ; Réseau WEB : La Maison de la danse CDCN Uzès Gard Occitanie, WP Zimmer, Beursschouwburg, Black Box Theater, Tanzquartier Wien, Frascati Theater ; PICA (Portland Institute of Contemporary Art)
​With the support of: DRAC – Ile de France
Residencies: Ballet du Nord – CCN Roubaix Hauts de France, Centre national de danse ANGERS ; STUK House for Dance, Image and Sound in the frame of Life Long Burning co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union ; Agora/Montpellier danse

Sorour Darabi is a self-taught Iranian artist living and working in France since 2013. Working actively in Iran, they were part of the underground organisation ICCD, whose festival Untimely (Teheran) hosted their work before their departure for France. They address in their pieces the transformation through time and cohabitation with the environment, and the notions of language, gender identity, sexuality, and vulnerability.

In 2013, they joined the Master Exerce at ICI-CCN in Montpellier, from which they graduated in 2015. In 2016, they created Farci.e, a solo dealing with notions of language, gender identity and sexuality. Their next piece, Savušun (2018), is an ode to affection, vulnerability and affected beings, which draws inspiration from Muharram's mourning ceremonies and addresses the issue of emotions: grief, fear and suffering. In 2020-2021, upon invitation from the Brussels Kunstenfestivaldesarts, they created Mowgli, inspired by the jungle as an infinite territory at the crossroads of contemporary myths.

In addition to their creations, Sorour Darabi regularly gives workshops for advanced or professional artists / dancers.