Vico Nahmias - Strofodines

Vico Nahmias - Strofodines

The title of this performance comes from the Ancient Greek word strofix (pivot) and is a metaphor for the delirious behaviour of the individuals who attain a state of religious ecstasy while whirling in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a technique which goes back many centuries and can be seen illustrated in stone reliefs of the Ancient Greek Kavirian mysteries, in Asian agrarian events and in American pre-Colombian ceremonies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primarily, of course, this technique is known to us from the live, mystic Sufi tradition and the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, founded by Jelalludin Rumi (1207-1275), the poet and holy man of Islam.

 

 

 

 

Vico Nahmias has pored over this extensive material with great dedication, proposing a research spectacle which concerns the modern-day viewer, without being disloyal to the roots of its origin.[ more ]

 

These photos are from the preview of the production, which is a part of Athens Festival 2015

Little Girl

A trick that people use to make you think they are smart

Is confidence when actually they're lost in the dark

Only someone with the mind of a child says he'll grow up

The seven and the avalanche you're life will show up

Its nice to be loved it can never happen too late

I wanna share my food but you have stolen my plate

Hey now, hey now go your way now

 

You tortured little girl

Showing them what love is all about

Where did all the time go?

Everywhere it's gone, gone, gone

You get the point now

You pick yourself up off the bars

She's on his arm now

Cause they remind you off the pictures on the wall now

But you was young and I wasn't not even born yet

If you think I know a little more bit

Than the average person on the streets you are incorrect

Because I'm ignorant as shit, not here to preach, man

You know I just wanna have fun, go to the beach, man

That's all I am, I'm just a simple guy who talks when

You put a microphone in front of him

You twisted little girl

Showing them what life is all about

Where did all the time go?

Everywhere it's gone

Running left in a relationship

Going in circles and I just can't wait

Running left so we can get in shape

Get in shape because we can't escape

Running left because I'm already late

Really not, I'm in the exact same place

Running laps in your relationship

Running away from the subtleties of

The worlds always amazed at how much cash you made

But not at how you made it, it's just strange

It sounded kind of cool over the phone

It killed your neighbors and their dog and crushed their bones

You tortured little girl

Showing them what laughter's all about

Where did all the wine go?

Every night it's gone

You got it all worked out

Funny little girl

Showing them what pain is all about

Where did all the time go?

Every night it's gone, gone, gone

You're the coolest girl in this whole town

I just wanna parade you around

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse

Blue Prelude

Gordon Jenkins, Joe Bishop

Let me sigh, let me cry when I'm blue,
Let me go away from this lonely town,
Won't be long till my sun will be blue,
Cos I know I'm on my last go round.
All the love I could steal, beg or borrow,
Wouldn't heal all the pain in my soul.

What is love? but a prelude to sorrow,
With a heartbreak ahead for your goal,
Here I go - now you know why I'm leaving.
Got the blues. what can I lose? goodbye!

 

What is love? but a prelude to sorrow,
With a heartbreak ahead for your goal,
Here I go - now you know why I'm leaving.
I got the blues. what can I lose? goodbye!

Nina Simone

Back Water Blues

When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
Then trouble's takin' place
In the lowlands at night

I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door
I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door
There's been enough trouble
To make a poor girl wonder where she wants to go

Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond
Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond
I packed all my clothes
Throwed them in and they rowed me along

When it thunders and lightnin' and when the wind begins to blow
When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begins to blow
There's thousands of people
Ain't got no place to go

Then I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
Then I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
Then looked down on the house
Where I used to live

Backwater blues done call me to pack my things and go
Backwater blues done call me to pack my things and go
'Cause my house fell down
And I can't live there no more

I can't move no more
I can't move no more
There ain't no place
For a poor old girl to go

Bessie Smith

Lavern Baker

The Storm

Found himself out into the road

The dust up to his nose

Put that anchor down

To find a place where he could go

'cause he was looking for the shelter

From the storm

You were looking for a place that you could call your own... you...

Kept on, now walking past the signs you used to see

Kept on getting used to dropping-anchor

In the sea

'cause you're looking for a shelter of the storm

Looks like news that storm is coming closer every day now...

Drove himself into a town

The roads were paved with gold

(all the roads were paved with gold)

Eyes wide open, shutters closed

(eyes wide open, shutters closed)

Just waiting for my time to know

(quarter to twelve is time to go)

The sorrow's hiding underground

The rain is falling upside down

(and the clouds are turning red like flames)

Oh 'cause I'm looking for a shelter from the storm...

'cause she's getting closer every day

The storm is getting closer every day

Every day