The MCA Chicago presents Unwanted, a powerful testimonial of female strength by Rwandan performance artist Dorothée Munyaneza that draws from stories told to her by women who are survivors of the genocide against the Tutsis in
Munyaneza, a pastor's daughter who fled Rwanda at the age of 12 with her mother, traveled on a commemorative journey back to her homeland for the first time to create Unwanted, uncovering stories, emotions, and memories of the tragedy in which hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were murdered, including many of her neighbors, family, and friends. Munyaneza fuses original choreography with song, featuring vocals by punk rocker Holland Andrews (Like a Villain); scenic design by South African visual artist Bruce Clarke; and a live music mix by French electronic composer Alain Mahé. Unwanted takes place at the MCA on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, October 3-6 at 7:30 pm, with an additional 2 pm show on Sunday, October 7.
Munyaneza's choreography reflects her belief in the power of movement to explore the range of human experience, from resilience to joy, by depicting one's most vulnerable memories. The material for Unwanted is inspired by stories she collected from women survivors, many of whom were raped during the genocide against the Tutsis, and opened up to Munyaneza with their stories of perseverance.
The expression of their trauma is marked by the demanding physical nature of Munyaneza's choreography, mixing moments of uncontained rage with quiet reflections and attempts at making light out of sorrow. Munyaneza reflects the ways the women held themselves while sharing their stories, from wiping away tears to changing into their best dresses and posing for a photo with the artist. Like a Villain's impressive vocal range captures these extremes, seamlessly shifting between high soprano and deep, guttural sounds in concert with Munyaneza, who adds vocals and movement. A central totemic artwork by Bruce Clarke is set on stage, engaging with contemporary histories of power and injustice.
