“I Matter” because…
"I Matter" Interactive dance performance by Nadra Assaf and Al-Sarab Dance Troupe
It was all confusing at the end. I stood there speechless, unable to find the proper words... it was pure luck that I remembered to breathe.
I tried to make sense of it all, and while it made perfect sense (for it was as it should have been), I could only wonder how this has never been done before. Not like this. Not in this way.
The previous lines, I hope, explain exactly how I felt after watching a dear friend and her group of wonderful dancers perform a little “experiment” called “I Matter”. But first, a little secret:
For as much as I love the arts, I never really felt anything towards the abstract forms; rather, I steered clear unless, much like this past Saturday, it was in support of a friend. (thank you for insisting)
So here I go to walk you through what is in fact, not a performance, nor a dance, nor an abstraction of a performance-dance. It is, quite simply, an experience. Of which kind? Stick around.
We were being led from one room to the next by the dancers. But first, as Nadra spoke the words that would indeed change your perspective on life, on what you think of others... on what you think of yourself... she starts shifting people around... be it dancers or innocent audience members.
The dancing, well that was happening right in between us. We stood there, afraid to move, afraid to block the passage for those who were flying amongst us. What moved me most though, were the expressions held on their faces. They smiled, then stared, they felt loss, pain, sadness. They smiled again.
They challenged each and every one of us to look straight into their very souls and see. They wanted to see just how we, just how I, affected this very moment. They bumped into one another, they bumped into us, they shook us right out of our reality into a world, where words stop making sense. For once in my life, I did not try to make sense of abstraction, but abstraction tried to make sense out of me.
They screamed, they were silent. They moved, they stood still. They were the most beautiful contradiction, I ever had the pleasure to witness.
They moved us again, to the initial room. On the platform, were 2 of the dancers. Wrapped in duct tape. The lights were dim. They wiggled, they moved about, they tried to break free from their self-imposed shackles. What were the shackles though? I am sure your understanding would have been different from mine. They finish and we are, again, led to the other room.
Some are placed dead center, some around. The dancers form a tight group in the middle of the room... but as you prepare for their motion, there she comes, flying into them... no hesitation... no anticipation... zooming past you and flying into the faces of the troupe. They collapse on the floor.
But now, it is time for the audience to participate. Now, as one by one the dancers awake, Nadra picks some of us to mimic one specific dancer. Everyone complies, however hesitantly.
It’s almost over... were are now led atop the platform, and the dancers are dancing with us... we’re smiling.... we feel good about ourselves... we like this... but then a scream and in a split second all the dancers are off the platform, and much like someone who has been stripped of their clothes in the blink of an eye... we stood on up there... shocked... but then, the dancers... they started clapping... for us...
it was... well... it was the necessary orgasm at the end of love making. Without it, it’s pointless. In fact, it was the whole reason of why we had to go through the dance... We couldn’t just be placed on the platform and then have them clap now could we?
I didn’t clap... not fast... not at first... because I flashed back.... I re-witnessed every second of this.... experience... and I saw it... I understood:
First, was the flirting. Then came the soft kisses and warm embrace. After that, foreplay, followed by passionate love making, leading all the way up to the final orgasm. It was beautiful. It all made sense.
To Nadra Assaf and Al-Sarab Dance Troupe,
Thank you for reminding me of just how important I am. Thank you for sharing your most intimate selves with me. Thank you for the smiles, and the shocks. Thank you for being you.
I came in a friend, but I left a lover.
The magnificence of the performance, was perfect. Not almost... but perfect.... The difference for me was in the form of the wonderful dancer who wore the glasses.
Thank you all.... for it was, truly, orgasmic.
Marc Khoury
