When I hear the word Ouroboros, I imagine myself at the beach. Rotating in the breeze as I carve endless circles in the sand with a stick or my finger. Listening to waves return and go endlessly.
Ouroboros, a word that commands the entire mouth, is an ancient Greek and Egyptian symbol of a serpent eating its own tail. Possessing a meaning as fluid and complex as its pronunciation, it is a fitting title for Nejla Yatkin’s latest theatrical solo performance premiering at Links Hall March 8-10.
An ode to the qualities of creation and destruction, “Ouroboros” was conceived by Yatkin during the pandemic. The larger than life, one woman performance is a celebration of cycles, bridging the commonalities of dance and language. An ambitious offering amplified by original composition by Shamou, “Ouroboros” maximizes its traditional Turkish inspired set envisioned by Delana Bradley with elaborate scarves draped from the ceiling and lovely textures of flower petals spread across the stage.
Holistically, Yatkin unearths the linguistics of language, exhausting the possibilities of the body while inviting viewers to sit in a circle at the decadent feet of Yatkin’s personal storytelling.
Although we are struck by the multitude of gifts Yatkin brings on her own, it is clear to see she shines in part by the support of a seasoned team which include a sleek dramaturg by Joanna Furnans and an interchangeable Middle Eastern inspired costume designed by Katrin Schnabl. Intrigued by charms on her feet, toe sandals which resembled socks at times, satin capes and a black beenie -like cap we are oftentimes as intrigued with Yatkin’s attire as we are with her hand placements.
Nejla Yatkin presents "Ouroboros" on March 8-10 at Links Hall; Photo by Enki Andrews
Stemming from Yatkin’s colorful upbringing, Oroboros is a seamless multisensory journey where the audience is encouraged to join in on the fun through our taste buds with Turkish delights, our synapses with language and our aural fields with our limbs.
During a conversation, I asked Yatkin how she was able to achieve a continuous flow of energy between diverse experiences: “I consider myself a weaver,” says Yatkin. “ The experience of nomadic Turkish life, of being a dancer and speaking multiple languages. I’m constantly weaving worlds of dance and ancient healing.”
Reeling in multilingual lenses including Turkish, German and an impressive ASL sequence, Yatkin invites us to experience the spark of discomfort with new language, while creating a tapestry of multi-lingual worlds that can and do co-exist while co-creating, brilliantly.
Inspired by a memory of marking choreography on the train, a deaf person began to sign to Yatkin, and another world opened when she trained in sign language for a year prior to the performance. “As a dancer using the body, I wanted to incorporate ASL while also making it accessible in the piece. I could understand gestures, expressions and the body before I learned to speak German as a child.”
Whether Yatkin is praising femininity with infused full body undulations, defying gravity with fresh contemporary phrases, maintaining her grounding with athletic break dance style floor work, or even exploring her voice through cabaret, Yatkin is a vision. It is apparent that her endurance is sustained by something beyond the surface.
“In order to understand nature and the body you must look at patterns. Language is a pattern, and I play with patterns through dance in time and space. Patterns of cells and stars, destruction and creation, mantras and patterns of cycles.”
It is these patterns that Yatkin embodies that keep us mesmerized by “Ouroboros,” not only encouraging our gaze but also our full participation in the never-ending circles of life. It is also this pattern of connection that should inspire us to celebrate our own unique experiences no matter how disconnected they may appear; there is an undercurrent that bonds our worlds.
Nejla Yatkin presents “Ouroboros” at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western, March 8-10 at 7pm. Tickets are $16-$42 at linkshall.org or by clicking the event link below.