- Performance Art
- Dance
A Rehearsal for Taking Space
Mona Hartel, Farah Boukhoms
4 July 2026 18:00–18:30
5 July 2026 17:00–17:30
This performance explores the internal conflict we feel as women when we occupy public space, as well as the inner tensions this can create. We may feel a strong desire to move, speak, and flourish, while a deeply ingrained instinct urges us to hold back, not take up too much space, not be too visible, not speak too loudly. These expectations can be internalized, creating a constant negotiation between desire and what seems socially acceptable.
The piece focuses on this internal dialogue, a continuous back-and-forth between what drives us and what is actually allowed to emerge. Between impulse and hesitation, expression and restraint, the body negotiates what can be shown, amplified, or held back. Presence becomes something that is constantly adjusted according to the surrounding social environment.
Performed as a duet by a white woman and a non-white woman, the work also reflects on how different social positions shape the experience of occupying space. Our perceptions of safety, our fears, and the way we position ourselves in public space do not always overlap. Sometimes our experiences diverge, revealing unequal conditions of visibility and exposure. At other times, they meet at a point of convergence where common structures of gendered expectations become visible.
The space itself becomes a central tool of the performance, shaping the way bodies move, approach, withdraw, and renegotiate their place within it. The audience witnesses this fragile and embodied negotiation.
The piece focuses on this internal dialogue, a continuous back-and-forth between what drives us and what is actually allowed to emerge. Between impulse and hesitation, expression and restraint, the body negotiates what can be shown, amplified, or held back. Presence becomes something that is constantly adjusted according to the surrounding social environment.
Performed as a duet by a white woman and a non-white woman, the work also reflects on how different social positions shape the experience of occupying space. Our perceptions of safety, our fears, and the way we position ourselves in public space do not always overlap. Sometimes our experiences diverge, revealing unequal conditions of visibility and exposure. At other times, they meet at a point of convergence where common structures of gendered expectations become visible.
The space itself becomes a central tool of the performance, shaping the way bodies move, approach, withdraw, and renegotiate their place within it. The audience witnesses this fragile and embodied negotiation.
Biography
Mona Hartel, Farah Boukhoms
Farah is a French dancer and artist of Algerian descent. Trained in contemporary, hip-hop, and oriental dance since childhood, she recently completed the Dance Intensive at Tanzfabrik and the Big Bang program in Montreal. Her work merges contemporary movement with her cultural roots, exploring the meeting point of diverse influences and personal histories.
Mona is a German dancer and artist who began with tap dance before expanding to contemporary and urban styles. She recently completed Tanzfabrik’s Dance Intensive, where she deepened her interest in performative dance and took part in several performances. Her work shows a strong commitment to storytelling through movement.
They met at Tanzfabrik, where their shared passion sparked a creative collaboration that continues to evolve.
Mona is a German dancer and artist who began with tap dance before expanding to contemporary and urban styles. She recently completed Tanzfabrik’s Dance Intensive, where she deepened her interest in performative dance and took part in several performances. Her work shows a strong commitment to storytelling through movement.
They met at Tanzfabrik, where their shared passion sparked a creative collaboration that continues to evolve.
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