‘Boys Just Want to Have Fun’ at Belgrade Pride Week
Photo credits: Nata Korenovskaia
As part of Belgrade Pride Week, the dance-performance piece "Boys Just Want to Have Fun" made its debut on September 2 and 3 at Endžio HAB. This durational performance, choreographed by Israel Aloni and cast, delves deep into the deconstruction of masculinity, questioning societal taboos around men’s sensuality and tactility. The event, running from 16:00 to 22:00 over three days, offered the audience an immersive experience, challenging traditional perceptions of masculinity in mainstream Western culture.
The performance confronts power dynamics, gender hierarchies, and the visual art space, with a focus on the body as both an object and subject. It explores how bodily processes can inform identity and agency within public spaces, encouraging viewers to rethink societal norms around masculinity.
The audience members were invited to freely move around the performance space, experiencing solos and moments with interactions between a number of performers, creating an opportunity for individual interpretation and reflection.
““This was one of the most captivating live performances I’ve ever experienced, thank you once again for sharing your art with us. Looking forward to your future projects!” ”
This piece is part of a broader effort to bring queer criticality into the realm of contemporary art, co-produced by Heartefact and supported by the Culture Moves Europe program of the European Union. The creative team, including performers Arūnas Mozūraitis, Victor Persson, Elias Kraft, Elias Khanamidi, Tomer Giat, and Atte Rimpelä, alongside the production team, worked together to challenge conventional narratives about gender.
An insightful discussion with choreographer Israel Aloni and the performers followed the run of three shows, shedding light on the creative process behind the piece, from the initial rehearsals in Belgrade up to the final performance.
““For me the process of the work gaining flesh and coming to life was an incredible revelation of the coexistence of simplicity and complexity in the attempt to be in the world. The work with the performers was absolutely incredible and I am very grateful for the vigour and the courage with which we collaborated””
"Boys Just Want to Have Fun" is a profound exploration of identity, sensuality, and societal norms, significantly contributing to the Belgrade Pride Week and advancing critical conversations around gender and masculinity..