With the solo performance ›east of what?‹ Caner Teker pays homage to the »köçekler«, young, androgynous dancers of the 18th-century Ottoman Empire, renowned not only for their dance prowess but also for their involvement in sex work. The piece delves into the narratives of the köçekler as queer figures, examining both their self-expression and societal perceptions. In the process, Teker intertwines classical movement vocabulary from the Turkish tradition with his own sensual movements, challenging both sexualized and orientalist perspectives. Radiating from Teker's hips, the movements initially appear sculptural before gaining dynamism and spreading through the audience. In collaboration with ambient hardcore musician Nazanin Noori, the performance evolves into an immersive sensory concert, fostering connections that transcend rigid identities and exploring alternative approaches to memory.

Choreography, Performance & Stage design: caner teker Komposition & Live musik: Nazanin Noori Lighting design & Stage design:: Shaly Lopez Costume: Olivia Ballard Dramaturgy: Stanton Taylor Outside Eye: Ligia Lewis Künstlerische Production: Sofie Luckhardt Technical leader: Hendrik Borowski Outside eye production: Martin Bien Support: Gilles Yann Smrkovsky

Production: caner teker & PARASITES PROJECTS Co-production: PACT Zollverein, HAU Hebbel am Ufer Fundedy by: Kunststiftung NRW, Düsseldorf. Funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Supported by: NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste e.V. Supported by the Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media