Tender Resistance

'Tender Resistance' is both a vulnerable and fiery dance duet. Two dancers engage in a physical dialogue, though their ways of approaching each other often differ widely.

Inspired by speeches and interviews with actor Viola Davis and the sensitivity of the Papiamentu language, Grootens and her dancers explore how difficult it can be to remain vulnerable in a world full of conflict and harshness. That armour in your closet may seem tempting and safe—but what if you refuse to harden along with the world? Can we offer tender resistance together?

About the artist
Faizah Grootens is this year’s resident artist at Korzo, a theatre and production house in The Hague. She was born and raised in Curaçao, and trained at the Amsterdam University of the Arts and the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba. As a choreographer, she has collaborated with organisations such as Holland Dance Festival, Het Zuidelijk Toneel [NL], Laleget Danza [MX], and Taller Coreográfico UNAM [MX]. Her work has been shown both nationally and internationally. Grootens was awarded the Leo Spreksel Award in 2023, a prize for up-and-coming choreographic talent. That same year, she appeared at Boulevard with the dance piece Corpus Criolla.