Karakoncolos

'Karakoncolos' is a solo dance piece that explores rage and joy, subversion and seduction. Inspired by a shapeshifting creature from the Laz culture in northern Turkey, the Karakoncolos emerges in times of great change, challenging us to face harsh realities. Traditionally seen as a demon, I use this figure to invite audiences to experience 'demonization' – a phenomenon increasingly used to justify repression of movements like climate activism and antifascism. 
Through dance, I highlight how demonization is part of resisting the status quo, while also celebrating joy as a source of strength in marginalized communities, influenced by my connection to Berlin’s drag scene. The piece uses somatic, improvisational and choreographic methods to embody the creature and its human / non-human layers, transforming the fall into the antifall, demonic seduction, rage and joy as resistance & identity pull.

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Plain language

'Karakoncolos' is a solo dance.
The dance is about strong feelings: rage and joy.
It also plays with breaking rules and with seduction.
The idea comes from a shape-shifting creature from the Laz culture in northern Turkey.
This creature appears when big changes happen. It makes us look at hard truths.
Some people call it a “demon.”
I use this figure to show how groups are sometimes treated as monsters to silence them.
Examples: climate activists and people who fight fascism.
Through dance, I show that being “demonized” can be part of resisting the status quo.
Joy is also power, especially for marginalized communities.
My work is inspired by Berlin’s drag scene.
I use body-based work, improvisation, and set choreography.
I embody the creature: part human, part non-human.
I turn a fall into a new kind of movement (a fall that becomes a rise).
The piece explores seductive pull, rage, and joy as forms of resistance and identity.

Glossary:
Laz culture: The culture of a minority group from northeastern Turkey, along the Black Sea.
Demonization: Portraying people or groups as “evil” or dangerous to make it easier to control or punish them.
Somatic: Body-based practices that focus on physical feeling and awareness.

Sefa Okutan ist ein*e in Berlin lebende Performancekünstler*in und Tänzer*in, der*die sich auf verkörperten Protest und queere Mythen beruft. Durch Drag und Folklore, insbesondere den Gestaltwandler Karakoncolos, verwandelt Sefa Freude und Wut in somatische Rituale, in denen dämonisierte Körper zu Solidarität, Widerstand und Kollektivität werden. @sefayasefa
www.sefaokutan.de