In Iran, dancing has been officially prohibited since the start of the Islamic Revolution. All dance groups have been forced to cease their activities and many dancers and choreographers fled abroad. Those who remained have to be very resourceful in order to keep their art form alive. In This is not a dance, Nastaran brings the voices of choreographers and dancers living in Iran to the stage – a performance that faces censorship. What can be shown, what must remain hidden? How do they deal with the ban on dancing? How do they practice their profession, what dangers do they face, what freedoms do they fight for?
This is not a dance is a tribute to the body that wants to move. A reverence for art that must be created, in any way, shape, or form.
Credits:
Concept, direction, acting: Nastaran Razawi Khorasani
Scenography, video: Peter van Til
Music: Joost Maaskant
Light: Minna Tiikkainen
Dramaturgy: Aukje Verhoog
Costume: Rebekka Wörrman
Production by Theater Rotterdam
Nastaran Razawi Khorasani
Performer, theater creator, and actress graduated from Maastricht Institute of Performative Arts. In her documentary performances, Nastaran aims to provide a platform for people who are unheard, opening access, and creating new perspectives. Her show Songs for no one twice received the BNG Bank Theater award (in 2020 and 2021), an award from Flemish Theater Festival 2022, and Theater der Welt in Frankfurt-Offenbach in 2023.