As a result, the publicity material for "Dancing Deviant" has the slogan, "Banned from Harvard-Radcliffe's Arts First celebration."

"What do you do when you get a letter from the head of the OFA that contains a hand-written note saying that they don't believe that the show is appropriate for Arts First," Talusan asked. "They expect us to believe that the show is welcome in Arts First despite the letter."

He added that he and his production staff had to "scramble for money" after receiving the letter from the OFA, and did not know whether or not they would be able to produce the show until mid-April.

He said he did not request to be listed in the brochure at that time because he assumed it had already gone to press.

According to Mayman, the deadline for the brochure was the middle of February. The letter informing Gotlieb that the show had not received funding was dated February 26.

Jessica Hammer '99, who produced a play that did receive Arts First funding, also said that the OFA failed to announce the calendar deadline or that any project could be included in the brochure.

"It doesn't say anywhere that you can be in the brochure if you're not receiving money. I'm sure it's possible but it doesn't say that," she said, adding that her play, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," was automatically included in the brochure once it received funding.

Pushing the Limits of Comfort

Talusan admitted that his performance, which includes a self-penetration scene with a vibrator, "is very arresting."

"A lot of people who see it run out of the theater," he said, adding that the audience's shock is "understandable."

Talusan, who has trained in ballet and modern dance for seven years and studied dramatic theory, acting, directing, playwriting and fiction, also acts and dances in the show.

Black-and-white slides of his nude body, and color photographs of him in drag, are shown in the background.

"It advances that gender and sexuality are fluid and shouldn't be tied to heterosexual models," Talusan said.

According to Matt R. Saunders '97, who ran the sound for three of the performances, Talusan is "brave" to expose himself the way he does in the show.

"He's putting himself out there much more than I've ever seen anyone do at Harvard before," Saunders said. "It'll be really easy for people to dismiss the piece as being offensive and in-your-face."