Abstract
The participatory dance performance STEHBLUES was created by the duo of Ninel Çam (an artist) and Chris Schaal (a filmmaker), who travel to different cities, mark a 2m x 2m area in a public space, and display an illustrated sign that lets passersby know that they can dance with the standing-and-waiting artist if they want. Chris Schaal documents the performances through still images and videos. Moving images are live-streamed to the World Cafe in Stuttgart.
In STEHBLUES, the artist stands in the midst of the marked field in a public space, waiting until a stranger is willing to slow-dance with her. As soon as someone volunteers, a relationship is created in this sphere of dance and becomes an ephemeral part of the city, of the culture, of the world. STEHBLUES travels to different cities that have invited this project to be part of their culture or to cities with which the artists feel a connection.