SWAY

Swinging, oscillating, swaying – we follow the emergence of movements. Bear witness to manifestations of change. Between the heroine as protagonist and the loser as antagonist. In her solo dance performance «SWAY», the choreographer and performer Tatiana Mejía examines socially established, normative associations and sets out to revive the intrinsic value of failure. Taking historical systems of oppression as a starting point, the performance deals with the Superwoman Syndrome and confronts the mainstream archetype of the strong Black woman. In a dynamic interplay of dance, live video projection and sound, Mejía explores different levels of self-perception and prejudice. At the intersection of Western “contemporary” and Afro-diasporic movement language and music, “SWAY” explores the fragile balance between strength, failure, and uncompromising self-assertion.

A dance Film by Tatiana Mejía

Kiskeya is the ancient name of a tropical island that oscillates between a tourist paradise for bargain hunters and a prison for its poorest inhabitants. One island with two nations, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, who are separated by their past and present – one is even working diligently to build another fence! One of the poorest countries in the world and one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean saw their relationship defined first by colonial narratives, and then by hatred, racism, colorism, fear, codependency, ignorance, denial of ancestral heritage, and a lot of plastic. 

This interdisciplinary dance project unites artists from both cultures to communicate through movement, sound, languages, and the bonds of common traditions.

The political and social situation on my home island inspired me to make this film.

However, I was not interested in pointing fingers, but in the artistic encounter between Dominican and Haitian dancers. It is a declaration of love to my beautiful native island.