After 2020 was cancelled due to COVID, this finally marks ICL's 5th year of probing the fantastical blending of ritual and entertainment on Coney Island USA's stage. ICL has again assembled an array of performance artists, musicians, puppeteers, sideshow performers, poets, dancers... tasked with presenting original works that define "ritual cabaret" though the lens of their own particular aesthetic, discipline and lineage.

The history of the Coney Island Ritual Cabaret Festival is informed by dancer/choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata who in the 1950's originated butoh with his ensemble of burlesque dancers in an effort to defy and subvert authority, including conventional notions of dance, thereby seeking transformation -- on the personal, societal and human level.

Inspired by this historical reference, in its call for proposals, ICL challenged artists to deconstruct and reinvent their particular art form, whatever it might be. We asked: If the goal is TRANSFORMATION -- of the self, of society, of humanity -- what will it take to bring this about? Is it possible to invent a new genre? What is Ritual Cabaret to you?

FRIDAY, MARCH 31 PERFORMERS:

To the Spinal Womb
by OMER GAL OF COOKIE TONGUE

Death and Jazz
by JONATHAN KOPP

shadow mending in memento mori
by JACQUELYN MARIE SHANNON

FLOYDADA
by SISTERDADA
(with Catherine Porter and Nomi Tichman)

Crone Rope
by SUIDAE

Xis Pretty Boy Blues
by PNK VLVT WTCH
(with Clawdette Smm Smm, Honey Boy, Pink Velvet Witch,
Spicy Delight, and Viper Cazimi)

(CLICK HERE for performer bios)

For full schedule of all 3 festival days, go to intlculturelab.org

All ticket sales are non-refundable and WILL CALL only (select Will Call at checkout), to be picked up day of performance, at our box office at 1208 Surf Avenue. TICKETS WILL NOT SHIP. There are no extra service fees for online purchase. Please check your junk or spam folder if you do not receive an email confirmation, in your inbox.