In As you like it, choreographer and dancer Mirte Bogaert uses her body as a living question, inviting the spectator to reflect on how we look at the (naked) (female) body. Sensuous and subversive, this solo performance dances along the edges of joy and desire, beauty and voyeurism, irritation and self-examination. The performance is the result of more than two years of research into the gaze upon the naked body and its cultural charge.
Taking point of departure in her research journey to Japan, Bogaert explores how Western ideals of the female body, nudity, and sexuality have influenced Japanese perspectives – especially during periods marked by Western influence such as the early Meiji era (from 1868) and post–World War II. Drawing inspiration from her encounters with Japanese strip theatres, where cultural codes provided rich ground for reflection, she shares her insights in a thought-provoking and seductive solo.
During the creation, Bogaert engaged in dialogue with curator and writer Ive Stevenheydens, interdisciplinary artist Avni Sethi and light designer Ryoya Fudetani. These exchanges enriched the piece with layered perspectives on the politics of the body, visibility, and intimacy, and helped shape the sonic, light and conceptual framework of the performance.
As you like it challenges, stretches, and loosens the norms of what is considered normal or sexual about nakedness. Costume and scenography extend the body beyond the skin, becoming points of contact between performer and audience. As you like it is, first and foremost, fulfilled by the audience’s gaze.
