THEY SAY THEY KNEW
Presented by Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi
Thursday, December 9, 2021 | 6-10pm
Free-to-Attend
THEY SAY THEY KNEW is a video installation by Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi consisting of a twenty-nine minute dance film to Julius Eastman’s Gay Guerrilla, a one minute video exploration, and a projection mapping installation.
This work asks the question of what it means when one is met with the falsehood that others “knew” the truth about their sexual and gender identities. A lack of care, understanding, and support is in conjunction with a statement that carries the weight of creating a nonexistent space of nurturing and acceptance by saying that “they knew”. Feelings of confinement, restraint, isolation, loneliness, and shame are all represented throughout the installation through the use of different materials such as the closet, fabric, rope, chicken wire, and movement qualities. The literal and conceptual collide creating an experience of narrative storytelling that highlights the circumstances that are a reality for the Queer community.
Created by Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi
Performed by Tristan Grannum
Music by Julius Eastman
(with permissions from the Eastman Estate)
About the Artist
At the age of 15, Hagudeza received a scholarship to attend Philadelphia Dance Theatre. They had the opportunity to train within different techniques and perform works by various teachers and choreographers, whose works have been seen with the likes of Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Complexions, BalletX, and more. Three years later, Hagudeza received their first contract as a professional ballet dancer at Festival Ballet Providence, where they were commissioned by the artistic director to choreograph on the company. Shortly after, Hagudeza joined Cincinnati Ballet’s second company, where they also jointly choreographed a piece with the associate artistic director. Hagudeza is currently in Philadelphia where they have been a guest artist with Opera Philadelphia, Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers, Drexel University, and Philadelphia Dance Theater. Most recently, they have received the Art Works Grant from the Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation for 2021 and 2022.
More Info: @hagudeza
