Footsteps against racism @ Week tegen racisme
We are proud and happy that we could participate in this event, though we all know that to be anti-racism should be daily practice.
In these pandemic times every rehearsal has been a challenge. We stand for a theatre of total physical presence with an emancipatory power for both the artists and the audience. But now this presence is constantly facing all the limitations imposed by the virus. Distancing, impossibility of physical interaction, static positions, an upside-down dramaturgy, no synergy with the audience…
When Pakhuis de Zwijger asked us to perform for Week tegen racisme, our first thought went to the relevance of the whole event.
In 2020 we were supposed to perform ‘live’ the full one hour of Our Footsteps theatre performance. The whole event was cancelled just a few days in advance because of the start of the measures against the pandemic in the Netherlands.
Now, one year later and still in the midst of the same pandemic, we were expected to perform via video livestream in front of cameras and microphones…to put a medium on top of a medium, to deny the theatre of presence we strongly believe in.
Well, we did it, we created Footsteps against racism. Our presence during Week tegen racisme was more important than any other consideration. Thank you so much Pakhuis de Zwijger for organizing all the talks, films, workshops and artistic contributions that are part of the program of Week tegen racisme. And thank you for having us in this program.
(pictures by Melanja Palitta | Balans LaB)
Our Footsteps Collective is currently creating a new performance: Footsteps against racism.
This will be performed during Week tegen racisme on Friday 19 March 2021 from 20.30 to 21.30 at Pakhuis de Zwijger Amsterdam
Footsteps against racism
Moments of past migrants’ lives and of current theatre and activism
From voices of dolphins guiding migrants across threatening waters to singings of protest and revolution. And also strong voices against oppression, torture and discrimination, the cry of a refugee camp and the scream to racism visible even in a colorful world map.
And now here we are, captured in our daily routine and yet still struggling as before. But now somehow knowing better how to break the boundaries of our constraints.
Footsteps Against Racism is a theatre performance created by the same migrants and refugees collective that has successfully performed Our Footsteps throughout 2019 and the beginning of 2020. Now the collective is here, ready for Week Tegen Racisme
Week Tegen Racisme 15-19 March
Pakhuis de Zwijger
Friday 19 March, 20:30-21:30 Footsteps against racism at “Words Against Racism”
LIVE via link: https://dezwijger.nl/programma/words-against-racism
Performers: Arif Murat Gür, Aysenur Akin, Erhan Calihan, Harun Turan, Maral Jefroudi, Maurizia Mezza, Rahila Yideaiti, Roberto Bacchilega, Zeki Barlin
Original text ‘The Dolphins” co-written by Mohamed S. Bah and Aysenur Akin
Original texts by Arif Murat Gür, Erhan Calihan, Rahila Yideaiti
Brackground scenery by Karin Schoutema
Pictures by Melanja Palitta | BalansLaB
Many thanks to IIRE International Institute for Research and Education for supporting and welcoming us
An “Our Footsteps” and “AstaroTheatro” production
(Pics from our dress rehearsal)
(More rehearsal pictures)
