Nicole Haitzinger &
Christina Gillinger-Correa Vivar
This week’s lecture offered a fascinating deep dive into the embodiment of snakes in modern European stage dance (1900–1935) and its lasting impact on contemporary arts. Viewed through a decolonial lens, the presentation revealed how these historical performances challenged the conventional, distant observation of the stage by transforming “seeing” into a deeply physical, embodied experience. Whether dancers performed alongside actual snakes, physically mimicked them, or enacted ancient rituals, they actively pushed the boundaries of traditional theatre. By analyzing the captivating works of Nyota Inyoka and Leila Bederkhan, the talk beautifully connected these historical movements to contemporary performance, highlighting enduring themes like “cosmic theater,” erotic trance, and sense-expanding techniques.
