The strippers were present.
Bushwick Burlesque bared all on Thursday for a tribute to performance artist Marina Abramovic, famous for sitting silently for hundreds of hours and spilling her blood in public. The group adapted Abramovic’s experimental work as a cabaret show at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.
“The idea was to translate her visual movement based language into our language,” said performer and co-producer Scary Ben. “We were using the visual form and function of a burlesque cabaret to perform serious performance art. We translated her work into a language the audience could understand.”
Another dancer and co-producer covered her naked body in crystals for a piece titled “The Art Must Be Beautiful.”
“A burlesque dancer is not known for being a good performer, but known for the amount of crystals they put on the costume.“ Darlinda said by way of explaining her piece, a re-imagining of an Abramovic work in which the avant-garde creator brushed her hair for an hour in front of a silent audience.
Other dancers conjured Abramovic’s violent piece “Light Dark” by slapping each other.
Next week at the Sideshow, Scary Ben hosts a “surreal romp” centered around a French clown named “Tout le monde le Clown.” Expect a psychedelic time.
“Scary Ben Presents: Derrière la Porte Bleue: Attend le Clown” at Coney Island Circus Sideshow [1208 Surf Ave. at W. 12th St. in Coney Island, (718) 372-5159, www.coneyisland.com]. Thursday, July 3 at 9 pm. $12.
