The Elephant in the Middle of the Room
Vânia Doutel Vaz
- 04.04 — 10.04 2022
- Artists in Residence
- O Espaço do Tempo
Vânia Doutel Vaz is in artistic residency at Espaço do Tempo in April, creating her first solo There is an Elephant in the middle of the room. The show will premiere in November 2022 at Teatro do Bairro Alto (Lisbon) as part of the Alkantara Festival 2022.
With 36 years of age, 13 years of dance training, 18 years of a career in dance, my body made itself more present than ever. I decided to listen to it. Unsurprisingly, it is outraged. Until now, there has always been someone to tell it what to do, when and how to do it, and where to be. As the chance to talk arises, it has conditions. This piece comes from the realization that this body has things to say that are beyond me.
Vânia Doutel Vaz (January 2022)
Conceived, created and performed by Vânia Doutel Vaz Video Daniela Stubbs Levi, Vânia Doutel Vaz Residency collaborators Josefa Pereira, Luara Learth, Piny, Nina Botkay Costume Nina Botkay, Vânia Doutel Vaz Set, Light and Technical Director Leticia Skrycky Music to be defined Produced by Alkantara Coproduced by Teatro do Bairro Alto Residencies Alkantara, Casa da Dança, Estúdios Victor Córdon/OPART, La Fabrique Chaillot Thanks Rui Horta, Josseline Black, Ana Trincão, Giovanni Lourenço
Project supported by the residency program “La Fabrique Chaillot” – Chaillot- Théâtre National de la Danse (Paris)
Vânia Doutel Vaz, of Angolan-Portuguese descent, trained with the Royal Academy of Dance, the National Conservatory Dance School in Portugal, and Fórum Dança. Since 2018, she has been working as a performer and rehearsal director with Trajal Harrell on Séance de Travail; the Porca Miseria trilogy (Maggie the Cat, Deathbed, O Medea); The Romeo; Tambourines; Monkey Off My Back or The Cat’s Meow; and Welcome to Asbestos Hall, created for Kunstenfestivaldesarts and Holland Festival 2025. Since 2024, she has been replaced by Legia Lewis in the solo A Plot | A Scandal....