Avalon Rathgeb , Unbound

In her captivating solo debut Unbound, London tap dance artist Avalon Rathgeb interweaves questions of identity – artistic, sexual, gender-related and individual in nature – and takes on the topic of objectification. Between tap dance, video, text, and costumes, gender in Unbound becomes something that is ascribed in various ways, and which becomes mutable.

Parts of the play are loosely based on the stage life of famous British Music Hall performer and male imitator Vesta Tilley who began performing in London in 1874, while other elements show Avalon Rathgeb in a dance film choreographed by tap dancer Joshua Hilberman. At the end, the artist presents herself in a contemporaneous context and connects video, tap dance, movement, and text.