THEY say that life begins at 40, for Katherina Radeva that’s certainly true.
The artist is bringing her solo dance show to South Street Arts Centre on Saturday, November 25, promising an evening about joy, expressing yourself and how to dance in the kitchen.
Called 40/40, it is centred around the artist turning 40. Originally from the Thracian Valley in Bulgaria, the artist says she has always been dancing but she would never call herself a dancer until this show.
It aims to be an insightful and moving celebration of her life through stories of her past, present and future – in speech, electrical tape and in movement.
And the show also aims to explore body shaming, while celebrating women’s strength, labour, hard work and sadness.
It’s all to a soundtrack of favourites, including Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), and Nick Cave’s Rings of Saturn.
Katherina says: “There are always points in one’s life when a radical change occurs. For me, a moment like that is turning 40 – a marker of time and a marker of looking back and looking forward.
“It is also a kind of invisible marker in a female body and, in my instance – a female migrant body.
“When I first arrived in the UK back in 1999 at the age of 16, I kept asking for permission to do this or that – a polite way to try and fit in and pass. Nothing wrong with being polite, I like it. But with age the only permission one ever needs to ask – is of themselves.
“So, 40/40 you could say is a bit of coming of age. It’s fun and raw and unapologetic and all very true.
“I have given myself the opportunity to make a dance solo supported by three incredible dance artists all over 40 – the legend Liz Aggiss, Lucy Suggate and Rachel Krische. I am doing what I want to see more – female, middle-aged and imperfect bodies taking space and being honest and real.”
The show will be at South Street Arts Centre on Saturday, November 25. Tickets cost £15, or £13 for members. As the show contains nudity, it is suitable for ages 14 upwards.
For more details, log on to: www.whatsonreading.com or call the box office on 0118 960 6060.
Katherina’s website is: https://www.twodestinationlanguage.com/
