Chris Leuenberger / Marcel Schwald (Bern, Switzerland) @ Holding Space : PFS5
22 Feb:
public performance of Ef_femininity (ticketed)
23 Feb:
workshop (by registration)
In the second week of Holding Space, Chris Leuenberger and Marcel Schwald from Switzerland hold space for people exceeding binary constraints and questioning gender norms. Their artistic practices of Documentary Dance Performances aims to interweave elements of journalism and dance, shedding light on personal stories by means of movement and text. Both of them have always been fascinated by the traits attributed to the female gender – especially when those are practiced for self-empowerment and as a political statement. They have collaborated with the radio journalist Shilok Mukkati, the actress Living Smile Vidya and the choreographer Diya Naidu – to tell their stories rooted in different assumptions about gender in India.
Public Engagements
22 February ’25 | Ef_femininity
Indo-Swiss documentary dance performance
Alipore Museum
7 pm
Tickets: Rs. 300
Ef-femininity examines the concepts of femininity, hyper-femininity and effeminacy by a gender-diverse ensemble of performers from Switzerland and India. What is femininity and who owns it? What does it mean to emancipate as a woman or to come out as a woman? What does it mean to stand up for one’s femininity if the world sees you as a man? Four performers come together to tell their stories rooted in different assumptions about gender identities in India that have an expansive history surpassing binary distinctions.
23 February ’25 | Performing Biographies
A workshop on performance making based on biographical materials
Anuchintan Art Center
23 February 2025
11 am – 2 pm
Workshop Fee: Rs. 500
The workshop will
- Examine the act and the politics of sharing personal materials on stage
- Try to understand transformation of biographical experiences into a creative process
- Explore the notions, attributes and cultural constructions of femininity and masculinity
- Exchange on how experiences one participates in changes our lives – as an artist and/or a private individual
- Create performance using biographical materials
- Be inspired by personal sources as an artistic means that feels safe and solid to share
- Become awarene of creating a safer space together as a performative act/agreement at the beginning
Who can participate:
Anyone with a gender-diverse viewpoint or gender-diverse life experiences.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Chris Leuenberger is a choreographer, performer, and mentor. His collaborative projects with Marcel Schwald, explore autobiographical material, gender issues, and social themes. His notable works include Kreutzberg, EF_Femininity, and Touch Isolation, which received recognition at festivals and awards. As a danceability and yoga teacher, he integrates breathwork into his practice, reflected in pieces like Soplo de Vida and Breathing Volumes. He also mentors artists through Pro Helvetia, co-founder of the artist collectives White Horse and Sweet & Tender Collaborations and currently developing a nature-based residency in Italy.
Marcel Schwald is a director, dramaturge, performer and lecturer. He has been working exclusively in collective collaborations since 2019. His plays have been shown at major theatres and festivals in Switzerland, Europe and Asia. Marcel has won the 2015 ‘Swiss Dance Heritage’ award, nominated as ‘Young Director’ in 2017 by the critics’ circle of ‘Theater heute’ and for 2022 ‘Cultural Award’ of the city of Basel/CH, ‘Swiss Theatre Production 2023’ award, Swiss Federal Office of Culture, with Living Smile Vidya.
Shilok is a powerful force of celebration and transformation, a dynamic Intersectional Feminist, navigating the complexities of visibility with her resilience, activism, and art. A National Award winner for her radio show Lesbians in the Shadows (2016), she uses her performance to champion inclusivity and marginalized voices. Globally, she’s collaborated on the EF_Femininity Project and performed her solo piece Undraping Silence. Shilok directed the feminist play Am I a Mass Production Machine?, and her work features in events like Bangalore Lit Fest, Times Lit Fest, Equal by Rangashankara and in the syllabus at Kuvempu University, inspiring conversations on gender, identity, and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Thomas Kohler, based in Basel, Switzerland, is an experienced lighting technician with over 25 years in the field. He has collaborated with prominent artists and companies, including Marcel Schwald, Corinne Maier, Anna Huber, and the Basel Sinfonietta, and serves as the technical director for festivals like Theater Festival Basel and Wildwuchs Festival. Thomas previously worked on a documentary theatre project in India and is excited to return as part of Ef_Femininity. He lives in Basel with his two sons.(79 words)
Diya Naidu, a choreographer, dancer, and facilitator, explores socio-political issues through immersive performances. As a choreographer, her work has traversed into the area of gender and feminism – violence against women, the role of caste and class in lack of safety for women and the somatic implications of patriarchal penetration. While she makes work for large stages, currently she works largely in the immersive and intimate performance space. Founder of Citizens of Stage Co Lab, she worked at Shoonya Centre for Art & Somatic Practices and collaborates globally, including in Virtual Reality projects with Cie Gilles Jobin, Switzerland. A trained Animist and Yoga teacher, she earned her Movement Arts Diploma at Attakkalari, Bengaluru. Diya’s milestones include awards like the Prakriti Excellence Award (2016) and residencies in Africa and Europe, shaping her transformative art practice.
