Dam Van Huynh works with long term collaborator Elaine Mitchener to present the live premiere of On Being Human as Praxis as part of MaerzMusik 2023. Elaine brings together five works by five composers for voice, electronics and ensemble to create On Being Human as Praxis based on the work of feminist cultural theorist Sylvia Wynter.

What does it mean to be human? And what does it mean in our present time? Elaine Mitchener draws on feminist writings by Jamaican cultural theorist Sylvia Wynter to engage with these fundamental issues – and contrasts the European-colonial concept of humanity with a praxis of being human that needs to be learnt anew.

Sunday 19 March 2023, 20:00 - Live Premiere
Haus der Berliner Festipiele, Main Stage - Berlin, Germany
www.berlinerfestspiele.de

On Being Human As Praxis
George Lewis H. narrans
Tansy Davies The rule is love
Jason Yarde THE PROBLEM WITH HUMANS Volume 1 – An Overview From Under
Laure M. Hiendl White Radiance (the brand name)
Matana Roberts Gasping for air considering your purpose Dissolving…

Cast
Elaine Mitchener concept, vocal soloist (contralto)
Dam Van Huynh choreographer, director
Ieva Navickaite dance
Tommaso Petrolo dance
Michael Picknett Lighting

MAM.manufaktur für aktuelle musik:
Heather Roche clarinet
Paul Hübner trumpet
Sabrina Ma drums
Sarah Saviet violin
Caleb Salgado double bass

A coproduction of Berliner Festspiele / MaerzMusik and the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program
Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

This project was commissioned by Donaueschinger Musiktage 2020 and has not yet been presented with a live audience.

We are proud to be part of F-ing Good Provocation and we trust this will be a milestone for a better understanding of systemic challenges faced by ESEA artists making work in the UK and beyond.

F-ing Good Provocation is a constellation of conversations during lockdown on injustices & hope in the dance sector. It is a zine (project as well as a practice) that celebrates the 20 artists of East and Southeast Asian diaspora involved, who live, create and contribute to the vibrant arts landscape of the UK and beyond.

A bit more about the project:
F-ing Good Provocation is multi-prong project and practice, focusing on anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice and centring care, empathy, accountability focusing on artists of the East and Southeast Asian diaspora in the UK. The first phase of the project was a scoping phase including hours of conversations during lockdown in 2020/21 on race, racism, injustices and the 20 artists' lived/living experiences. This zine encapsulates some of the difficult, honest yet essential conversations and hopes.

On sale at Centre 151 and other stockits for £6 only.

More information about the project: www.f-inggoodprovocation.com

As we turn a page on 2022, we are forever grateful to our team of artists and collaborators for their generosity, strength, creative spirit, joy, humour, friendship, resilience and can-do attitude. You are our everything.
Thank you to venues and partners without whom none of this would be possible. Here is to a brilliant year with more laughter and connections to look forward to in 2023!