This is a showing of the early stages of a new project continuing the artist’s research into Black gender play. It started out with improvised voice recordings where they performed the word “girl” in different ways. They found that in Black vernaculars, especially from South Africa, gendered words like “girl” and “man” can be performed in a way that does not solely refer to those specific gender categories. They ask: can gendered language – through its performance – actually destabilise the rigidity of gender?
Inspired by the artist’s theatre background and their curiosity to translate their solo practice onto a group body, they are in the process of creating a chorus work. This showing is an early exploration into the form of chorus and questions if and how a chorus body can be found in a solo body. The relationship between text and movement is an essential part of this process and is supported by the artist’s writing mentor, Andi Colombo.

Naledi Majola (they/he/she) is a South African artist-researcher, based in Berlin. After completing a BA in Theatre and Performance, specialising in Acting, at the University of Cape Town (2014-2017), they started working as an actor, appearing in various film, television, theatre, and commercial projects. At the same time, they began to develop a performance-making and research practice, embracing various mediums, including movement, voice, sound design, and writing. After primarily working in Cape Town, Naledi moved to Berlin, where they completed the MA Solo/Dance/Authorship at HZT Berlin in 2024. Their work seeks to blur the line between theory and practice and is inspired by performance studies, pop culture, and South African history and art.

[Source: ada-studio.de]

TFB Nr. 1887