WHAT? These are the bodies that have not borne is a performance ritual to heal, celebrate and reimagine our wombs and the places where our wombs might be. Maria Bauman and MBDance are e
mbarking on a new project centering the womb-journeys of all Black and Brown folks who are contending with feelings around not yet bearing a child through their own body--whether they expect to do that in the future or not. For different folks this may be a celebration, and expression of autonomy, a mourning, a contending, a reclaiming, or more. Through guided workshops with guest practitioners, rehearsal sessions wherein we work from carefully crafted improvisational scores, and sessions wherein we learn choreography, the project is both community-building consciousness-raising circle and performance practice leading up to public ritual with witnesses. This work will include dirt (submerging ourselves with Earth, our first womb), partial or full nudity depending on each participant's preference, dancing indoors, dancing outdoors and discussion.
WHO? The piece is meant to be enacted by Black and Brown people. Transmen, gender non-conforming people, non-binary folks, transwomen and cisgender women are all welcome. No concert dance experience is necessary. I (Maria) seek to work with any Black or Brown people who have large feelings about not yet bearing a child through their own body, whether they expect to do that in the future or not, and who would like to move through those feelings and related topics in a committed and communal performance-based practice over several months.
HOW? This project will include workshops, movement practice and performance. There is a public in-progress sharing at BAAD! (wonderful black box theater in the Bronx) in October 2023. Then, the work will continue and we will have a full culmination in late 2024. All participants will be paid at a rate of $25/hr, including workshops and rehearsals. Performances will be paid at $200. Again, this project will continue to grow and develop beyond the October sharing. There is space below to let us know whether you are interested in participating in the piece for this iteration and/or beyond the October performance dates.
MORE? There is more information to share than this space will allow but if you have specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! Please reach out to Maria Bauman, artistic director, at maria@mbdance.net and/or Audrey Hailes, associate artistic director at audrey@mbdance.net. Thank you!
