a decolonizing club dance ritual centering queer people of color

You are invited to think about the relationship with your ancestors. Together, we create a space of intimacy even when we experience distance through our personal histories and current realities, which are filled with trauma, but also with a desire for healing and resilience. When it comes to reflecting upon our shared colonial history, we all have different roles and places in the process of healing.

In this ritual, we center queer people of color. We question how supporting one and another looks like in the process of decolonization and in reflecting upon our shared colonial histories.

Inspired by Muslim/Sufi traditions of Gnawa, Zar, and whirling Dervish; Japanese Butoh, Surinamese Winti culture, Hindu rituals, South African Gqom.

Before contacting us for this work please read our MANIFESTO.

This work has been made possible by Meemaakpodium regeling, theater De Vaillant, CLOUD danslab, Dancing on the Edge, CultuurSchakel, Cultuurfonds, Fonds 1818, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, VSBfonds, Stroom Den Haag, en Gemeente Den Haag.

Initiator: Fazle Shairmahomed
Dancers: Fazle Shairmahomed, Devika, Chotoe, Mohamed Boujarra, Pauolo Yao, Nadia Bekkers, and Naomie Pieter
Composition and sound design: ..FormerlyKnownAs..
Costume design: Danny Bislik
Light design: Fred Janssen
Photography: Jassir Jones / Goedkroon
Visual design and illustration: Nazrina Rodjan / Hidden Lion Studio
Videography and trailer: Joël van Dooren
Artistic coach: Junadry Leocaria
Advisory: Damani Leidsman, Olave Nduwanje, Yun Lee, Natasja van ‘t Westende, Jacqueline Heerema, and Katayoun Arian

With special thanks to everyone who participated in the Decolonizing Dance classes at theater De Vaillant before and during the pandemic.