Art of Shibari - Gestalta Masterclass (queers & womxn)

The Gestalta masterclass will give participants the chance to familiarise themselves with Gestalta’s own approach to shibari.

As a rigger who also has extensive experience on the other side of the ropes, Gestalta aims to teach rope with a focus on the body of the tied partner in all areas of shibari practice.

Topics covered will include:

• Body mechanics, both in and out of rope, on the floor and in the air.
• The body within the takatekote.
• The third rope – and varying it according to your situation.
• Understanding the body in basic suspension positions such as yokozuri, hikyaku-zuri, aomuke-zuri, gyaku-ebi-zuri.
• Rope handling and “unstructured” suspension.

Depending on the level of the participants, other topics could include:

• Alternative harnesses: Hands free chest harness, hands in front harness, strappado, hip or leg harness.
• Kata-ashi-zuri (with transitions)
• Working with torsions Bamboo harnesses
• Floorwork and partials for play and/or torture

Requirements:

You must be of intermediate level to participate.  That means that you must be able to confidently demonstrate a suspension worthy chest harness (any style), and the knowledge of working with suspension lines.

You must also have a partner to work with and a set of minimum 8 ropes. Switching is allowed when a new exercise starts but not within one exercise.

If you need help finding a partner or if you want to purchase rope, please contact us at info@karada-house.de.

This event is intended for individuals who self-identify as queer and/or womxn.

Ticket price:

The ticket price is 300 Euros per pair.

About Gestalta:

“My approach to shibari has evolved as the result of over a decade of practice on both sides of the ropes and a broad range of influences which I appropriate, mix and develop in my own practice. This has shaped my teaching style into one that seeks to reflect the experience of both tying partners on a deep level. I have a strong belief that shibari should not be prescriptive and encourage students to explore it as a flexible set of tools; adapting each tie to the body of the tied partner, and to their needs and desires within each individual situation. My teaching process aims to enable this by giving students a framework of the fundamental principles behind shibari; including safety efficiency and fluency, but also body awareness, communication, and conscious consideration of their own experiences and motivations.

I absorbed most of my technical rigging style a natural process of observation and experience from inside the ropes of the people I was tied by as a model. In this respect I have been lucky to have had a broad range of influences from both Japan and the west.”

More info:

Gestalta will also do a performance on November 22nd at our vernissage event together with the calligraphy artist Shantel Liao. She is furthermore protagonist of the film SPELLBOUND that will also be showing that night.