DRAMATIC DANCE FROM A MALE FEMINIST
Choreographer views masculinity through a different lens,
Calgary dancer and choreographer Mark Kunji Ikeda has taken off his blinders.
Ikeda feels he has spent his adult life perpetuating the dark undercurrents of male privilege and rape culture, and has created a dance and theatre piece called The Golden Penis which he hopes will help others open their eyes and ears as he has.
“I never considered myself sexist or misogynistic, but when I began talking recently with some male and female friends I realized I held so many negative views and feelings as far as women go,” says Ikeda.
“I always saw myself as this nice, gentle guy who would go slowly in a relationship, but I realize I was doing that with the goal of being rewarded with sex. I would get angry if, after putting a great deal of work into a relationship, the girl would friend me instead of rewarding me with sex and that made me angry.
“That is such a revolting attitude to take when going into any relationship. It’s deceitful. It’s manipulative. This kind of attitude is at the basis of male privilege because it means I feel I am entitled to sex from every relationship I put any effort into.”
Ikeda says he learned another important lesson recently when he talked to a female artist he knows in Calgary.
“I always saw her as a very
strong woman, yet she confessed there are places in Calgary she feels frightened to walk through alone at night,” Ikeda says.
“I’m a pretty small guy, but I’ve never been frightened to walk anywhere in Calgary alone at night. She understands there are predators out there and I know that, too, but the difference is she sees herself as possible prey and I don’t and that is very much part of the rape culture that pervades modern societies.”
Ikeda admits there is bombastic sexism and there is quiet sexism but they are equally dangerous.
“Sexism is a dark part of our culture and with The Golden Penis I want to shine a light on it.”
Ikeda explains that his new show is “a highly physical dance and theatre piece that examines the male dominated structures of power and privilege.
“I know it’s going to make some people uncomfortable but that is one purpose of the show. We are trying to portray these topics with equal parts sensitivity and fearlessness but we definitely want to trigger emotional as well as intellectual reactions.”
Ikeda has assembled a strong company of 11 men and four women.
“These are all local artists. Some have strong dance backgrounds like Jared Ebell, while others such as Michael Rolfe and Conrad Belau identify more as actors or singers, but we are now a company.
He is particularly proud of having the participation of Jamie Tognazzini, Genevieve Pare, Meghann Michalsky and Quinn Kliewer because they ensured the play has a true feminine voice.
Ikeda also went to playwright Christopher Duthie to be the show’s dramaturge and to actor Stafford Perry who is a program leader at Calgary Sexual Health Society’s WiseGuyz program.
“I began filtering the themes of the play through my own experience, but then I turned to other artists, both male and female, for their vital input.”
The play carries a warning for violent, adult subject matter, sensuality, sexuality and nudity.
The Golden Penis, which Ikeda calls a male feminist’s outlook on contemporary masculinity, will be performed at the West Village Theatre (2007 10th Ave. S.W.) April 13 to 15 at 8 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. matinees on April 14 and 15.