Las Sistahs: “In a society that is governed by production values, closed times and the search for a result, having the freedom to search, play or research is a luxury”
Las Sistahs is the company selected by the call for Moving Identities 2025. Formed by Denise Duncan, Vicenta Ndongo, Adriana Fuertes Lara, Shorlady Preciado and Amanda Bokesa Salomón-Bisabe, Las Sistahs seek social justice and explore black feminism. They believe that the greatest revolution is to work from tenderness and love, which is how they want to work as a group of Afro-descendant women. We talk to them to learn a little more about who they are and what their artistic research consists of.
Who are you Las Sistahs?
We are five Afro-Catalan creators, who have collaborated on other projects, but who wanted to work together and tell our stories, in our own way.
What led you to present at Moving Identities?
First, the interest in working together. Secondly, the idea that being able to have the space and time to investigate a topic, from the performing arts, seems like a privilege to us. In a society governed by production values, closed times and the search for a result, having the freedom to search, play or research is a luxury. And together, even more.
What are you interested in researching in the residences you will develop?
We are working on the story of a group of black women, enslaved, who were used for gynecological experiments. Thanks to them, during the 19th century, progress was made in medical matters such as the treatment of vesicovaginal fistulas, caesarean sections or egg extraction, among others. However, the names of these women (Anarcha, Betsey and Lucy) are forgotten for years, while the doctor is considered the father of modern gynecology.
Based on this true story, our research focuses on the body of black women, how they are perceived, how they are read. We are working from three axes: pain, strangeness and pleasure/joy.
What motivates or excites you the most about being part of the Moving Identities project?
find us Share the process together. Giving voice to other black women who were erased from history, exploring our poetics, our creative process… from the company and presence of others, from complicity, from embrace and tenderness.
Moving Identities is a program exchange of residences led by performing arts spaces from all over Europe. The goal of the program is to get one greater diversity in the performing arts across Europe, strengthen international networks and the visibility of underrepresented artists through international residencies. Moving Identities also enables the sharing of best practices between partner institutions developing tools to support diverse artists and themes. Each year a group of artists is selected in each country. Each group does three residencies throughout the year: one in their country of residence and two internationally.
The program has been created with the support of Creative Europe for five European institutions: Nau Ivanow (Barcelona)UP (Copenhagen)David (Hammerfest)Hellerau (Dresden) i Kunstplaats Vonk (Hass.
