DOUBLE BIND
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Focusing on translating voices
into movement
from those who identify as
or resonate with the qualities of
being a woman,
Double Bind delivers
a universal message of
equity, diversity, inclusivity,
and human connection.
Double Bind is a contemporary dance work that integrates spoken word, custom hair art, and costume design. The process has consisted of independent research, and interviewing folks from NYC, Italy, and Japan, to acquire a full scope of the cultural experience that women share in sarAika movement collective’s broad community. This allowed them to create an organic script that underlines and empowers women’s voices, in reference to the cascading events and harsh rhetoric that the women’s rights movement has faced over the past few years all over the world. As a collective, sarAika is composed of immigrants and queer women who through this work share their perspectives on the issue.
It will premier on March 24th, 2023 at 9pm as part of the Spark Theater Festival / Emerging Artists Theatre New Works Series at the TADA! Youth Theater. Following this opening, excerpts will be shown in Our Bodies by Creative Performances curated by Sangeeta Ghosh Yesley on April 22nd at University of Settlement. In November 2023, at One Day Dance, Season 4, a cinematic experience of Double Bind will be shared.
WHAT IS DOUBLE BIND?
“Double Bind is an emotionally distressing dilemma in communication in which an individual (or a group) receives two or more conflicting messages with one negating the other. It is an impossible ultimatum that is put forward (either/or, however, both alternatives are unacceptable) two conflicting messages.”
Due to misogyny, cultural gender stereotypes, and societal roles, women often are confronted by double binds.
Women are constantly bombarded by mixed messages prescribed by society:
Be beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep.
Be sexy, but not sexual.
Be honest, but do not hurt anyone’s feelings.
Be smart, but not too smart that you appear threatening
Be polite but be yourself …
There are a myriad of contradictory double binds that haunt their lives, causing some women to feel obliged or lost within the tight shape of an idea of what they should be.
Common out-dated stereotypes outline women as caring, emotional, and meek, yet when they do not align with these qualities, they are othered and denied due to their relationship with femininity. In leadership positions, they may be perceived as ineffectual and incompetent and their colleagues regard them without respect or trust. If a woman is decisive or assertive, she is aggressive. Inside and outside of the workplace the same behavior rewarded for men is penalized for women. The perpetual conception that men are meant to lead causes women harm. These double binds prevent women from achieving a full emancipation from the stigmas they face. Although progress is made, they continue to be held back by these issues in all contexts of life from social to corporate.
What we can do
All women deserve to live in a society in which they are respected and appreciated.
Double Bind aims to generate conversation and spark growth in regards to toxic cultural forces that impair women’s lives. As a multicultural company, sarAika movement collective will amplify this discussion to our community in NYC and across the globe so that we may connect about these commonalities and differences we face, and inspire action to change our future. All women deserve to live in a society in which they are respected and appreciated.
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This work is about all of us.
The concept of a double bind, where poor communication leads to dead ends and generalizations are akin to one-way roads, is a unifying structure found in a plethora of issues women face: gender or sexuality discrimination, physical and mental abuse, abortion rights and access in the U.S. and abroad, the Iranian Women’s Movement, patriarchy and glass ceilings, the pay gap, sexual taboo & gender inequlaities. This project is a center source to inspire audiences to confront these radiating issues that are immediately impacting our lives.
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These concepts are brought into the choreography of Double Bind by utilizing structure, gesture, and symbolism.
01 Geometric and linear designs
Geometric and linear designs express the common sensations that emerge from the social pressure that women are subject to.
02 5 gestural choreographies
Feminine stereotypes are represented by common gestural language.
03 Limiting space
Informed by an interview they conducted, multiple dancers are limiting the space traveled by a dancer to portray “contained fear”.
04 Speed change
Dynamic shifts of speed illustrate the way in which women judge themselves and others because of a subconscious mental pattern ingrained into them by society.
05 from edge to edge
The strong desire and effort of independence and a wish to be who one is, is brought to life by using the stage from edge to edge.
06 Hair art
The use of hair art in the costuming of Double Bind is a fundamental choice as choreographers for them to represent femininity through a classic symbol, and add a functional prop to emphasize the choreography. Each dancer will be wearing a leather hat with a long blonde braid, iconically mimicking such distinct labels for females in several cultures. Women are raised to learn how to braid just as we learn how although the issues we face are morally wrong they are difficult to change. Depending on the situation one is in, they have the choice to take action or perpetuate patriarchal standards.
This visual element both symbolizes sisterhood and stigma. The performers will pull and connect via these extensions, using them like a net to support or trap one another. Dragging their braids will show the heaviness in which women carry. This contrast of connection and limitation is key to the necessity of this prop.
07 Spoken Words
The addition of the spoken word script performed and recorded serves as memories that were shared with them from the interviews they conducted. These stories are proof of an intrinsic double bind that taxes the lives of women. sarAika movement collective seeks to empower women’s voices to be shared and heard.
08 Names
We asked our community about the person/people who identifies as a woman/a feminist /anyone who identify or support the women community, that you respect, get inspired, or influenced most. This process could not be missed to acknowledge so many women community have empowered their right in the past and present.
Nika, Liliana, Lina, Mercedes Herrera, Chalavi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Kia, Roshana, Ahmadi, Margherita Hack, Hadis, Anna Lamuraglia, Setareh, Danila, Shirin, Abruzzese Daniela, Terry, Laronca Orsola, Sara, Samira, Catherynne M. Valente, Hasti, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, Shiri, Aynaz, Azzolini Edera, Salehi, Maryam, Carolyn McNamara, Christine, Nadia, Elaheh, Ruby Bridges, Helen, Negin, Asra, Nathira, Parisa, Sadaf, Concetta, Mona,Orietta Abruzzese, Cristina Loss, Behnaz, Kobra, Nicoletta Maranelli, Carol Mayer, Parisa, Diana, Nasim, Nahid, Kinley Dema , Nasrin, Maria, Darya, Marzieh, Yald, Ashraf, Aylar, Carolina Oliveros,Hanieh, Carmen Giulia Longo, Argentiero Angela, Tehra, Rigoberta Menchú, Chiara Bottici, Aram, Francesco Canino, Zahra Jalilian, Mahsa.
Your Support
Double Bind needs your support to reach our community in New York and beyond, and to all those who identify with the issues women face. If our goal resonates with you, we would be grateful to you for sharing this project, reaching out to collaborate, or any aid that interests you. We are seeking funding to guarantee the future expansion of this work. If you have the ability to contribute donations or sponsorship you can help us achieve this goal.
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
– Henry Ford
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Cast & Crew
Sara Pizzi
Choreographer & Dancer
Aika Takeshima
Choreographer & Dancer
Faustine Lavie
Dancer & collaboration in choreography
Mayu Nakaya
Dancer & collaboration in choreography
Maitlin Jordan
Dancer & collaboration in choreography
Haley Morgan Miller
Dancer & collaboration in choreography
Arianna Wellmoney
Actress
Takeo Suzuki
Hair Designer
He started his career in Japan. He has worked for many high-profile salons in Tokyo, London, and NY. 2007 saw him move to London to pursue session styling for photo shoots and runway shows. Two years later he said farewell to the British capital to make the move across the ocean to New York, where in 2015 founded ROOM SALON NY.
On his portfolio you’ll find hairstyling for many celebrities, ELLE, VOGUE, W and other global magazines, UNIQLO, SONY, TOYOTA and international brands.
Takeo is interested in hair as a medium of energy and started a technique of combining haircuts with REIKI and adjusting the energy as he goes. You will feel great mentally and physically after the haircut.
@takeohair
Federica Borlenghi
Costume Designer
Clara Wiest
Associate Costume Designer
Carol Prud’homme Davis
Resident Artist
Carol Prud’homme Davis, a native Texan moved to NYC to dance. She has served as visual artist in residence at both Peridance Capezio Center and the Sandra Cameron Ballroom Studio and has drawn over 100 companies and dance artists. She is once again resident visual artist at Peridance as well as The Anna Sokolow Dance Ensemble and sarAika. Carol’s work has been shown in the first American Contemporary Dance Museum exhibition (where her work is in the permanent collection), The East Texas Fair, Peridance, 288 Tom & Jerry’s, The Cooper Union windows, the Anna Sokolow Theater Dance Ensemble website (“Rooms” gallery), Francesca Todesco’s website, Kathryn Atler of the Limon Company’s website and The Infinity Dance Theatre website. She is now illustrating books on Lynn Simonsonand Kimberley Monroe’s “Helmet” which will be presented as a children’s puppet performance and book.
She looks forward to having her art image on the Anna Sokolow “Slaughter of the Innocents” album cover which will be performed live at the Smithsonian along with her artwork inspired by rare photos of Anna Sokolow performing “Slaughter of the Innocents. Carol’s image “Reflection and Reaction” was featured in the awarding winning video, “Pause”. Carol’s artwork is the book cover on “A Dancer Writes Haiku” by Marie Paquet.Nesson. In December 2021 her work was featured at the 6th Street/Avenue B projection ”Bowery Resident and Homeless Street Artists Exhibition” funded by LMCC and directed by Ms. Davis. Carol is the founder and owner of “Inside Change from Within” and “Inside Change, Inc.” both focus on social justice, food equity and arts exhibition, education and performance for all.
Review
体に絡みついている髪が印象的な始まりでした。衣装の一つとしても効果的で、縛られている印象を持ったままダンサーたちが右往左往、動き続けていて、精一杯生きている人間を見ているようでした。黙々と動き続けることを選んでるのかもしれないし、試行錯誤を繰り返して感情が動いるのかもしれない。どちらにせよ自由ではなさそう。広いと思っているこの世界も、宇宙から見たらこの舞台のように限られた自分の周りだけの世界に過ぎないのかもしれません。その中にいて、しかも縛られている。後半の解かれた髪はまるで犬の首に巻かれた鎖のようだし、遠くまで行けないように誰かに持たれています。体は目一杯動いていても、どこか動きにくさや閉塞感を感じます。Double bindというタイトル通り、どちらを選んでも悪い状況だとしてもその中にも小さいHappyを感じて、自分を信じて生きていきたい。最後の「It is your choice」で責任感みたいなものを感じました。
from DOUBLE BIND premiere on March 24th, 2023 at 9pm as part of the Spark Theater Festival / Emerging Artists Theatre New Works Series at the TADA! Youth Theater.
By Julian Magazine
SARAIKAMOVEMENTCOLLECTIVE によるアートパフォーマンスが、1993年にアーティスティックダイレクター、Paul Adams によって創立された EMERGING ARTISTS THEATREの３０周年を記念して行われているフェスティバルで観る事ができた。力強い音楽と共に現れたダンサーは、どこか異次元からあらわれた新しい生物のようにみえた。なびくブロンドのブレードと共に各自が交わっていく。生命の強さを感じる素晴らしいパフォーマンスでした。
from DOUBLE BIND premiere on March 24th, 2023 at 9pm as part of the Spark Theater Festival / Emerging Artists Theatre New Works Series at the TADA! Youth Theater.
Performance History
get Your inspiring person be part of the show
Eleanor Roosevelt
Liliana
Kinley Dema
Carolyn McNamara
Carmen Giulia Longo
Francesco Canino
Christine
Margherita Hack
Catherynne M. Valente
Abruzzese Daniela
Concetta
Terry
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Danila
Anna Lamuraglia
Laronca orsola
Lina
Argentiero angela
Orietta abruzzese
Azzolini edera
Sara
Nicoletta maranelli
Carolina Oliveros
Chiara Bottici
Mercedes Herrera
Rigoberta Menchú
Supporters
Asami Tanaka, Zhandos Kuderin, Masahiro Noro, Tomoko Watanabe, Mamiko Kishine, Aiko Hiraguri, Valerie Green, Ayumi Morishima, Jiemin Yang, Haruna Tonoda, and more anonymous
