Last weekend, I came across an article about the 2014 documentary, “Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity.” The subject of the doc, Elizabeth Streb, has been referred to as the Evil Knievel of Dance. She is a world-acclaimed modern dancer and choreographer best known for her brutal, energetic style. She is the founder of the company STREB/ Ringside, and her dancers fling themselves through space and (inevitably) into solid objects, but while it sounds like a series of sight gags, it’s actually quite moving and joyous and oddly life affirming. She attributes her athletic, violent style of dance to the fact that she grew up participating in extreme sports and interested in the more dangerous circus acts. Her through-lines are gravity and flight, and she’s a complete nutter. I’m so grateful to live in a world where such inspired nuts can find their way to shine.
Nothing I can say can prepare you for the controlled violence of Streb’s choreography, so how about I shut up and show, not tell? And if you’re interested, she makes all her rehearsals open to the public, so you can go watch the magic happen, warts, bruises and all! They’re at STREB LABORATORY for ACTION MECHANICS (SLAM), 51 North 1st Street, Brooklyn.
May 12, 2015 at 7:49 am
Thanks for this post. I did not knew about this woman. Exploring the human body limits trough art.. Here we have” La Fura des Bau”s doing amazing weirds since 1979.. but they are more.. bizarre … http://www.lafura.com/
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May 12, 2015 at 8:59 am
Wow! They’re incredible! Looking forward to exploring them some more when I have time. Thank you!
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May 12, 2015 at 12:36 pm
yes.. lots at youtube 😉
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May 12, 2015 at 9:59 am
Almost as energizing as my morning coffee. The creativity amazes me, who could imagine the devices used in the production? Definitely a dance for the able bodied.
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May 12, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Also requiring nerves of steel! It is amazing to watch, but I definitely don’t feel the need to try it myself.
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May 12, 2015 at 6:35 pm
OK, this has nothing to do with this post but I received my Etsy email this morning, entitled “Simply the Best.” Donna, make it stop. Tie up gladiator sandals “Penny Lane” (made to order). Think gladiator with multi-colored pompoms randomly stuck on them. Oh, yeah….
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May 12, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Please, oh please send me the link. They might just inspire an Etsomnia of their own!
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May 12, 2015 at 7:20 pm
I hope this works. I an not great with links. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElinaLinardaki?ref=sr_similar_target
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May 12, 2015 at 9:01 pm
MY EYES!!!!
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May 13, 2015 at 6:32 am
I am breathless. Thank you.
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May 13, 2015 at 6:50 am
Crazy, right? Makes me feel like an even bigger lump than I did before.
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May 13, 2015 at 8:27 am
A friend of mine is one of the dancers in STREB – they are incredible, for the London Olympics they were commissioned to perform on some of the iconic landmarks http://olympics.time.com/2012/07/15/daredevil-dancers-perform-at-londons-cultural-olympiad-festival/
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May 13, 2015 at 8:37 am
I saw some of that performance. They were climbing around on the Eye while it was in motion, right? That’s amazing!
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