Hate me, tender. Solo for future feminism
Purity, innocence and perfection – these are the attributes of the Virgin Mary. In a solo filled with humour and sensuality Teresa Vittucci searches for the feminist potential in this icon. She shows how the myth of a woman being sealed until she first has sex continues to influence notions of femininity to this day.
12.06. in person at TanzFaktur, live stream + chat (in English language)
Language: English
Suitable for ages 18 and above
In Christianity, Mary is seen as the ideal woman – because she unites what cannot be united, as both a virgin and a mother. Real women can never live up to this ideal. For them, the cult of Mary presents them with an impossible challenge. This makes Mary a source of self-hatred and of misogyny. But Mary is also merciful, vulnerable and filled with love. Teresa Vittucci creates images that respectfully grant space to these qualities – while unsparingly highlighting all the lies and false expectations that surround female virginity. A single silent image grows into a furious indictment. Vittucci sweeps away the story of the virgin’s hymen as a seal that guarantees freshness until it is pierced the first time she has sex. The icon empowers herself.
Credits
Concept and Performance: Teresa Vittucci
Dramaturgical Advice: Benjamin Egger, Veza Fernández, Rafał Pierzyński
Scenography: Jasmin Wiesli, Teresa Vittucci
Production Management: groundworkers // Kira Koplin
Production: OH DEAR Zürich
Contact for touring enquiries: Kira Koplin, kira[a]groundworkers.at
Production
Co-Production: Tanzhaus Zürich, Zürcher Theaterspektakel. Developed as part of the PREMIO Prize for Emerging Artists in Theatre and Dance, Espacion do Tempo Montemor. Funded by Migros-Kulturprozent, Pro Helvetia, Ernst Göhner Stiftung.
With special thanks to Julia Haenni, Gina Gurtner and Simone Aughterlony
Biography
Teresa Vittucci is a choreographer and performer. She is a graduate of the Conservatoire in Vienna, the Ailey School and the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance (SEAD) and completed her M.A. at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berne. Since 2013 she has worked as a solo performer and has devised such pieces as ‘UNLEASH’ (2012), ‘LUNCHTIME’ (2015), ‘ALL EYES ON’ (2017) and ‘HATE ME, TENDER’ (2018). She has collaborated with numerous artists including Simone Aughterlony, Marie-Caroline Hominal, Trajal Harrell and Nils Amadeus Lange. Teresa Vittucci is the Young Associate Artist (YAA!) at Tanzhaus Zürich for 2019/20. In 2019 she won the Swiss Dance Prize for HATE ME, TENDER.