Fazle Shairmahomed

A group of queer people of color create a common space for a spiritual process of decolonization in a reality where different ancestries have been brought together in painful ways. Through this ritual, you are invited to think about the relationship with your ancestors. Together, we create a space of intimacy even when we experience distance through our personal histories and current realities, which are filled with trauma, but also with a desire for healing and resilience. When it comes to reflecting upon our shared colonial history, we all have different roles and places in the process of healing. In this ritual, we center queer people of color. We will question how supporting one and another looks like in the process of decolonization, and in the reflection of our shared colonial histories. Inspired by Muslim/Sufi traditions of Gnawa, Zar, and whirling Dervish; Japanese Butoh, Surinamese Winti culture, Hindu rituals, Caribbean Bubbling, South African Gqom. Analemma seeks to engage in a queer act of creating rituals in a reality where people experience hybrid identities, and live multicultural realities that came into being because of painful histories and realities of colonialism. This work has been made possible by Meemaakpodium regeling, theater De Vaillant, CLOUD danslab, Dancing on the Edge, CultuurSchakel, Cultuurfonds, Fonds 1818, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, VSBfonds, Stroom Den Haag, en Gemeente Den Haag. Initiator: Fazle Shairmahomed Dancers: Fazle Shairmahomed, Devika, Chotoe, Mohamed Boujarra, Pauolo Yao, Nadia Bekkers, and Naomie Pieter Composition and sound design: ..FormerlyKnownAs.. Costume design: Danny Bislik Light design: Fred Janssen Photography: Jassir Jones / Goedkroon Visual design and illustration: Nazrina Rodjan / Hidden Lion Studio Videography and trailer: Joël van Dooren Artistic coach: Junadry Leocaria Advisory: Damani Leidsman, Olave Nduwanje, Yun Lee, Natasja van ‘t Westende, Jacqueline Heerema, and Katayoun Arian With special thanks to everyone who participated in the Decolonizing Dance classes at theater De Vaillant before and during the pandemic.

In UMAD (Hindi: emotional overflow) you witness the spiritual journey of decolonization for four artists with roots in Surinam, India and the Netherlands. They negotiate with the history of forced labor migration, the erasure of cultures they belong to, cultures they have come to belong to, and the oppressive systems which continue to exist today. All of them have been touched by the Dutch and British colonial projects, but are shaped differently through their personal experiences in life through religion, gender, and sexuality, which becomes visible through their authentic visions on decolonization and healing. Credits Artists: Fazle Shairmahomed, Taskien Khudabux, Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen, Rubaina Bhikhie Film and edit: Tanja Busking Sound: Marlon Penn Research: Zuleika Sheik Photography: Milan Tettero Made possible by: crowdfunding whydonate, Masala Movement, theater De Vaillant, Gemeente Den Haag, Cultuurschakel, Fonds1818, Fonds voor Cultuurpartcipatie, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds, VSB Fonds

In short film UMAD (Hindi: emotional overflow) you witness the spiritual journey of decolonization for four artists with roots in Surinam, India, and the Netherlands. They negotiate with histories of forced labor migration and colonialism, the erasure of cultures they belong to, cultures they have come to belong to, and the oppressive systems which continue to exist today. All of them have been touched by the Dutch colonial project, but are shaped differently through their personal experiences in life through religion, gender, and sexuality, which becomes visible through their authentic visions on decolonization and healing. The short film is part of program including a writing ritual, group conversation on the concept of ancestry, spoken word and more. Credits Aftermovie made by Flora Reznik and Jorrit van Rijn Short film Artists: Fazle Shairmahomed, Taskien Khudabux, Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen, Rubaina Bhikhie Film and edit: Tanja Busking Sound: Marlon Penn Research: Zuleika Sheik Photography: Milan Tettero Made possible by: crowdfunding whydonate, Masala Movement, theater De Vaillant, Gemeente Den Haag, Cultuurschakel, Fonds1818, Fonds voor Cultuurpartcipatie, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds, VSB Fonds, and STROOM Trailer short film https://vimeo.com/manage/463340714

a ritual of decolonization “Even when I am in pain I’m gonna shine bitches!” Ancestors who endured indentured labor, who had suffered, were punished, abused, and murdered, but also revolted against oppression and de-humanization. A recent history which has been and is being erased and silenced. This ritual is an embodiment of those who lived indentured labor for those souls we have lost on the seas. Aequilibrium is a decolonizing dance ritual in which Fazle is ritualized with salt and glitter. Each time is performed with different sound and a different guide. Decolonization, and the resistance against British colonization of India was also marked by ‘The Salt March’ in 1930 in response to a tax raise of salt by the British colonizers. In this decolonizing ritual we connect histories of resistance in India and indentured labor Surinam. For this ritual Fazle was guided by Taskien Khudadabux, sharing colonial histories from lineages that have encountered many times in history. Performers: Fazle Shairmahomed and Taskien Khudabux Sound: Ji Youn Kang

In the name of our ancestors who have survived indentured labor and colonialism, and those who revolted against exploitation, oppression and dehumanization. Through this ritual, dancers Fazle Shairmahomed and Devika Chotoe follow the footsteps of their ancestors in the fight for decolonization. Guided by the beats and sounds of ‘..Formerly known as..’ they set off on a journey towards the past to create healing for the future. The mechanisms and effects from the colonial past can still be felt, and through this ritual they create a joint moment to bring about healing and call for recognition of a shared history. In this ritual we keep finding different strategies for decolonization, inspired by Butoh, Muslim funeral practices, Whirling dance, Waacking, and the Club.” The ritual will be followed by an after talk moderated by Dee Dee, The Hostess with the Mostess a.k.a. Deborah Cameron. Artistic Crew Fazle Shairmahomed, Farah Rahman, Devika Chotoe, ‘..Formerly known as..’, Ludmila Rodrigues, and Fred Janssen Artistic Advisory Junadry Leocaria, Valentina Lacmanovic, Stephanie Pan, Yun Lee, Ria Higker, Damani Leidsman, Deborah Cameron This work has been possible with the support of CLOUD/danslab, Fonds Podiumkunsten,theater De Vaillant, CultuurSchakel, Cultuurfonds, Fonds 1818, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, VSBfonds, Stroom Den Haag, and Gemeente Den Haag

In the name of our ancestors who have survived indentured labor and colonialism, and those who revolted against exploitation, oppression and dehumanization. Through this ritual, dancers Fazle Shairmahomed and Devika Chotoe follow the footsteps of their ancestors in the fight for decolonization. Guided by the beats and sounds of ‘..Formerly known as..’ they set off on a journey towards the past to create healing for the future. The mechanisms and effects from the colonial past can still be felt, and through this ritual they create a joint moment to bring about healing and call for recognition of a shared history. In this ritual we keep finding different strategies for decolonization, inspired by Butoh, Muslim funeral practices, Whirling dance, Waacking, and the Club.” The ritual will be followed by an after talk moderated by Dee Dee, The Hostess with the Mostess a.k.a. Deborah Cameron. Artistic Crew Fazle Shairmahomed, Farah Rahman, Devika Chotoe, ‘..Formerly known as..’, Ludmila Rodrigues, and Fred Janssen Artistic Advisory Junadry Leocaria, Valentina Lacmanovic, Stephanie Pan, Yun Lee, Ria Higker, Damani Leidsman, Deborah Cameron This work has been possible with the support of CLOUD/danslab, Fonds Podiumkunsten,theater De Vaillant, CultuurSchakel, Cultuurfonds, Fonds 1818, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, VSBfonds, Stroom Den Haag, and Gemeente Den Haag

Concept / Dance: Tashi Iwaoka, Fazle Shairmahomed Sound: Stefano Sgarbi Trailer: Malik Nashad Sharpe Video: Berk Duygun, Julia Kiryanova Team of advisors: Valentina Lacmanovic, Stephanie Pan, Thomas Körtvélyessy, Ivan Babincheck, Sato Endo, Sarah Safi Harb Developed at CLOUD/danslab (The Hague) and BodlabOT (Amsterdam), NL in 2017. EorsThanatos deals with love and obsession in a society where many cultures strive to coexist. Being inspired by the Nagisa Ohshima's film, In the Realm of the Senses, about the controversial vulgar sex and death scandal of Sada Abe in Japan, two male dancers and a sound artist attempt to create a space for their ways of spiritual purification, blurring the tension between life and death. Their interaction and sexual obsession leads to an existential metamorphosis, suggesting spiritual liberation. ErosThanatos was premiered on 24 June 2017 as part of YOU BETTER MOVE #1 at Dansmakers in Amsterdam.

“Even when I am in pain I’m gonna shine bitches!” Ancestors who endured indentured labor, who had suffered, were punished, abused, and murdered, but also revolted against oppression and de-humanization. A recent history which has been and is being erased and silenced. This ritual is an embodiment of those who lived indentured labor for those souls we have lost on the seas. Aequilibrium is a decolonizing dance ritual in which Fazle is ritualized with salt and glitter. Each time is performed with different sound and a different guide. A history which both bounds and divides people, those enslaved and those indentured. In 1863 slaves from the African diaspora in Surinam were ‘promised’ freedom, but were held under state supervision “Staatstoezicht” for 10 years. Exactly 10 years later, in 1873, the first boat, Lalla Rookh, from Hindustan a.k.a. British-India, arrived in Surinam. De-humanization continued… As we are once again coming to terms with colonial histories, we are reminded of how present the poison of colonialism still is. We are still in need of decolonizing our minds and our bodies. Title: Aequilibrium 2.0 Performers: Fazle Shairmahomed & Olave Nduwanje With special contributions for this exhibition Spoken word: Jimmy Rage a.k.a. Femi Dawkins Music: Abraxas Art on stage: Remy Jungermans Exhibition: Quaqu_kwaku 2017 Curator: Charl Landvreugd

“Even when I am in pain I’m gonna shine bitches!” Ancestors who endured indentured labor, who had suffered, were punished, abused, and murdered, but also revolted against oppression and de-humanization. A recent history which has been and is being erased and silenced. This ritual is an embodiment of those who lived indentured labor for those souls we have lost on the seas. Aequilibrium is a decolonizing dance ritual in which Fazle is ritualized with salt and glitter. Each time is performed with different sound and a different guide. This work has been developed as a research for the exhibition ‘Capitalocean’ at W139, organized by artist Sara Pape Garcia. Initiated from an interest in the crystallization of sea water into salt, predicting and waiting for the arrival of sea sparkle at the seashore of Den Haag. Investigating the crystallization of sea salt on my body and bodies of others has brought me to development of an improvisation score, titled ‘Synaesthesia of Space’, as an invitation to navigate through the exhibition at W139. This research also resulted in a live video installation in collaboration with Jan Huijben, titled ‘Hydrophiliae’, in which the crystallization of sea water on my dark skin reflects a meditative state in which the contrast between salt and skin are inteferred by a breathing humid entity. The perfection of water drops is habitually disturbed and transformed into a new shape.