Ana Dubljević: Towards feminist dramaturgy

In this reading group session, Ana Dubljević invites to view (feminist) dramaturgy as both the production of meaning onstage and a shared practice of “thinking-feeling” during the creation process and the organisation, production and dissemination of a performance. If one abandons the authority of a single, central viewing point, how might feminist dramaturgy help to intentionally abandon it in the working process too? How can one lead processes based on practices of pleasure and care, where efficiency takes a backseat to coexistence in disagreement? How might one collaborate with those who provide space for uncertainty despite the fear, because they view space as freedom? Can these different processes produce different performances and, if so, how?

Through discussion, participants are invited to reflect and share examples of their own artistic and cultural practices and map the problems and possibilities of this type of approach. This session will be based on texts from Ana Dubljević’s book The Feminist Pornscapes, On Feminist Dramaturgical Thinking in Dance and Performance Practice.

Ana Dubljević (Belgrade) works with dance, choreography and performance. She graduated with an MA in Choreography and Performance from the Institute of Applied Theatre Studies in Giessen, Germany. Alongside choreographic work, Ana performs, teaches and explores what dramaturgy in dance could be. Her work is currently supported by the Apap network. Her book, The Feminist Pornscapes, On Feminist Dramaturgical Thinking in Dance and Performance Practice was published in 2021. She is passionate about erotic poetry and hopes for a planetary general strike.