Horse Me | Sofia Mavragani & Janis Rafa
Time & Date
Tickets
Group ticket reservations at groupsales@onassis.org
Onassis Friends presale: from 7 MAR 2025, 17:00
General presale: from 13 MAR 2025, 17:00
Information
Age guidance
The performance is suitable for ages 16 and up.
Duration
49 minutes
Dance, visual art, and music are intertwined in a horse-centered performance. In an atmosphere of misunderstood eroticism, the power dynamics between bodies riding and being ridden are subverted, redefining the boundaries of pleasure and submission.
Photo: Efi Gousi
Neighing, galloping, falls, sadistic bonds, torture, worship. The horse serves as a symbol of social status, beauty, and freedom, as well as a model of taming and ‘assimilation’ by humans. “Horse Me” is the result of a creative partnership between choreographer Sofia Mavragani and visual artist Janis Rafa. The sarcastic, political world of the choreographer merges with the multidimensional and animalistic universe of the visual artist.
Whips and snaffle bits intertwine in a bizarre sensual arrangement. Buttocks and tails vibrate over arias and electropop tunes. Paradox texts speak of the jockey’s triumph, while a list names the causes of death of twenty-three racehorses. Deft movements respond to violent commands implying the animal’s disobedience.
“Horse Me” explores human fantasies, desires, and cravings to tame and dominate other bodies. The work, by subverting gender stereotypes, hierarchies, and preconceived notions, raises concerns about the joys and pains that animals and human beings can share. By paying tribute to the creatures who have offered their lives in the service of humans, the performance finally appeals to the body’s right to remain unexplored, undefined, and untamed.
Credits
Concept & Co-creation
Sofia Mavragani, Janis Rafa
Choreography
Sofia Mavragani
Art Direction
Janis Rafa
Original Music
Thalia Ioannidou
Performance & Movement Material Creation
Maria Vourou, Konstantina Barkouli, Pagona Boulbasakou
Soprano
Lito Messini
Assistant to the creators
Yorgos Kyvernitis
Dramaturgy
Ioanna Valsamidou
Costumes
Chrysanthos Christodoulou
Stage Design
Janis Rafa, Filanthi Bougatsou
Lighting Design
Thodoris Michopoulos
Special object construction
Manos Vordonarakis
Costume making
Eirini Androulidaki, Odysseas Sampalis
Production Assistant
Giorgos Kalantzis
Line Production
Fingersix/athens
With the financial support of the
Hellenic Ministry of Culture
About the artists
Sponsors/Partners
.
Onassis Foundation
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