Performance

Terror of Living (2007)

On the 15th January 2007 the British press reported the latest foiled terrorist threat. This involved a group of men attempting to make a home-made explosive devise using chapatti flour, the central ingredient of Indian bread. This time, the Great British love affair with Indian food had taken on a whole new meaning.
By re-arranging different material from found media (newspapers and websites etc) with personal encounters with terrorr(ism) and anti-terror(ism), Jiva Parthipan explores the terror of living. During the performance the artist cooks, demonstrates and narrates while navigating through one of the pressing concerns of our times.

Co commissioned by the Birmingham Rep and Collide with additional assistance for the Arts Council.
The piece was partly researched through a Lisa Ullmann travel scholarship.

Performances:

31.01.08 - Leeds Met Theatre Gallery, Leeds, UK.

31.10.07 - The Drum, Birmingham, UK.

Necessary Journeys (2005)

A performance lecture about the privilege of travel. Here the narrative about the (in)ability to travel is juxtaposed with the theories about the politics of travel. Using documentation, spoken text and live performance, Jiva Parthipan navigates through failure to startling yet poignant event effect.

Funded by the British Film Institute – Black World and Arts Council, England
First performed at the Tate Modern, London

FIST! (2005)

Participatory arm wrestling match for bars and other drinking establishments
Two forms of IDs required to get into the ring
Two teams – Coriander Lovers Vs Coriander Haters. Three rounds with eliminations, No cheating by participants. Judges decisions final, though may be up for bribery. Winner gets a bottle of wine and a lap dance.

Compere - Eylon Bar-El
Bouncers and flag assistant varies in each venue.

Commissioned by greenroom, Manchester - Instant Win competition 2005. Also performed at the BAC, Batersea Arts Centre, London and Fierce! festival 2006 – Platinum artist development scheme.

Al Qaeda State Ballet

The modern day Whore of Babylon makes an exclusive appearance after a gruelling schedule of entertaining the troops in Baghdad.
The Al Qaeda State Ballet uses strip tease, burlesque, dance and satire to engage in political debate with a sense of humour in bars, pubs, clubs and other drinking venues.

First performed at the Duckie performance club, London on the first Saturday after the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
Since then performed all over the UK and Europe 63 times including Trans Cabaret, Nottingham, IETM – Birmingham, Extracts, Manchester, Arnolfini, Bristol and Clandestino Festival, Sweden

Waiting

Dance theatre triptych exploring the expansion and contraction of time whilst waiting.

Video: Lisa Skuret
Sound: Seth Ayyaz

Funded by Arts Council, England. Performed at The Lillian Baylis at Saddlers Wells, London, The Place Theatre, London, Tabernacle Arts Centre, London and the Contact Theatre Manchester.

Pakiboy

Semi autobiographical dance theatre work.

Sound: Seth Ayyaz

Performed at Watermans Arts Centre, London, ICA – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and Contact Theatre, Manchester.