Zufit Simon: Radical Cheerleading

In the organizer's words:

In recent major conflicts within capitalist democracies, dance has taken a firm place as a form of demonstration. Be it the "Standing Man" in Gezi Park, yoga sessions during Occupy or the dancers of the Egyptian National Ballet,
dance expression has always proven to be an effective means of peaceful protest.
"Embodied protest" and "protest choreographies" have therefore long been part of a new self-image of contemporary dance practitioners.
"Radical cheerleading" is one of these forms of expression that is used in a wide variety of contexts. It was developed by queer-feminist activists in the 1990s. Codes of cheerleading, known from sporting competitions, are used and subverted in this production to convey their own messages. Glamor, glitter and a mix of various slogans are elements
of this joyful, ironic alternative to militant forms of protest.

Trailer: https://www.tanzforumberlin.de/produktion/radical-cheerleading/

Artistic Director / Choreography: Zufit Simon | Creation + Dance: Dorota Michalak, Erika Leo/Sophie Prins, Sunayana Shetty, Cary Shiu, Zufit Simon | Sound: Fredrik Olofsson | Lighting Design: JOM | Costume: Mirella Oestreicher | Outside Eye: Clarissa Rêgo, Moritz Gagern | Production Management: Dietrich Oberländer | Press Relations: Beate Zeller | Performance Photos: Dieter Hartwig

Nominated for "DER FAUST" - Deutscher Theaterpreis 2023 - Staging Dance: LINK

From the nomination statement: "...She implements a clear concept and effective images with great skill and intensity. Together with her ensemble, Zufit Simon has succeeded in creating an extraordinary dance performance with humor and depth from the peaceful protest form "Radical Cheerleading"."

The world premiere was supported by the Cultural Department of the City of Munich and the Lower Saxony Foundation, as well as made possible by the BLZT, Bavarian State Association for Contemporary Dance with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. The research phase of this production was supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK - STEPPING OUT, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of the NEUSTART KULTUR. Hilfsprogramm Tanz, as well as funding from the Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of NEUSTART KULTUR. Zufit Simon is a member of Tanztendenz München e.V.