The Whole Me 2

A performance about body memory, censorship, and becoming visible.

Created and performed by Sarina Panahideh.

What does the body remember when it has had to remain invisible for years? The Whole Me 2 examines the traces that censorship and prohibition leave in the body - and the attempt to break free from them. Kurdish-Iranian choreographer Sarina Panahideh grew up in a place where dance was forbidden. Even after migration, she feels a delay between what she means to express and what she can actually convey - in language and in the body. The Whole Me 2 makes this inner tension visible: as a "duet within one person" between the honest, untamed self and the adapted, controlled exterior.

The performance begins in near-total invisibility - only the performer's eyes are visible. Gradually, a vocabulary of movement unfolds from interruptions, breathing rhythms, and everyday gestures: hiding, evasion, adaptation - repeated until they become legible motifs. A central element is a walkable installation made of taut nylon threads that densifies the space, blocks pathways, and forces detours. Light and projection reveal blurred bodies and anonymized close-ups of skin. Live music by queer composer Andrea (AndieSOUNDS) works with extended words and rhythms that make audible the movement between inside and outside.

The Whole Me 2 is created in collaboration with a collective of Kurdish and Iranian artists. Development partners include Orangerie Theater Köln, Sasha Waltz & Guests, and Dock 11 Berlin. The installation is accessible to the audience before and after the performance; barrier-free access, subtitles, and rest zones are part of the concept.

Choreography and concept: Sarina Panahideh | Co-choreography: Katja Keya Richter | Dance: Narin Mohammadi, Sarina Panahideh | Composition and live music: Andrea (AndieSOUNDS) | Set and costume: N.N. | Light and media: N.N.