Ellpetha Tsivicos

Ellpetha Tsivicos is a Cypriot-American dialogical artist whose work is driven by Magical Urbanism, an exploration of how ancient traditions exist and evolve in modern urban landscapes. Her production company, One Whale’s Tale, creates maximalist work that blends the sensations of music, dance, film, puppets/masks, food, vibrant color, narrative storytelling, a night out at a bar, a family party, and a festival into undefinable multidisciplinary performance. Her company prides itself on its institutional autonomy and knowing how to properly break the rules. Most recently, she has been building community through free physical ensemble workshops that create a space for group exploration, deep listening practices, and free form movement through live music and play. She is inspired by both the permanence and ephemera of nature, bright colors, form, broken forms, and community. Conversation is art, and culture is an act of resistance.

Her work includes QUINCE at the Bushwick Starr, QUINCE en la Plaza at Lincoln Center, Night Descends on Svalbard as part of the Exponential Festival, Persou at the cell theatre, Primer for a Failed Superpower for the TEAM, the Art in Embassies Gala and MoMa PS1 Gala with Mariah Robertson. Her book, A Life Into Lands, was published in English and Cypriot. She is the co-creator of I Wish I Knew How, a creative arts program for formerly incarcerated people, the Brooklyn Cumbia Festival, as well as a series of award-winning short films, documentaries, and music videos. She has developed work through residencies at The SHED and the TEAM’s Petri Projects and is currently part of the Devised Theater Working Group at the Public Theater in Manhattan.

As a dialogical artist, she considers every conversation to be part of the art and part of the work: an opportunity for a real connection, deep listening, creation, and an invitation to join in her pursuit of bringing people together.