Donya Speaks and Vita Malahova
Photo: Donya Speaks
Donya Speaks (Donia Sbika, *1990 in Bern) Donya Speaks is a versatile dance and theatre maker from Bern and Tunis. In her work, she creates a lively dialogue between language and movement and understands the stage as an experiential space for reflection. She has worked with choreographer Andres Corchero, among others, and danced in the play "Teresa" at the renowned Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona. In 2022, she co-produced the piece "Bis zum Ende des Regens" with the Tanzhaus Bern and the Théâtre de l'Opéra Tunis and developed a lecture performance on anti-Muslim racism with Hannan Salamat. In 2023, she initiated the feminist, transnational project "POETIK P", which premiered at the Dampfzentrale Bern in December 2024. Donya studied at the Accademia Dimitri, the Justus Liebig University Giessen and the Zurich University of the Arts. More at: www.donyaspeaks.com).
Photo: Valdis Jansons
Vita Malahova (*1986) is a Latvian-born performer, theatre maker and make-up artist who currently lives in the canton of Bern. She holds a bachelor's degree in physical Theatre from the Accademia Teatro Dimitri and a master's degree in Expanded Theatre from the Bern University of the Arts. She is the founder of the theatre duo I Patom Theatre, with whom she has created several plays (I Ran and Got Tired, Ask The Bread, Colorful Tales, The Illiterate and others) that have been performed all over Europe. Her work explores themes of belonging, disappearing traditions and individual and collective experiences revealed in people's life stories. In addition to her work in theatre, Vita is actively involved in human rights projects for refugees and asylum seekers. Vita currently works as a freelance actress and director in Switzerland and Latvia.
Project
I AM STILL THERE is a performance in a play format. The project research is based on a multi-perspective approach to the topic of migration and crisis. In a first step, the aim is to develop a performative dialogue and create a safe space in which a team of artists, asylum seekers in Switzerland and the local population can engage in joint reflection on the topic of "The Art of Welcoming".
Vita Malahova is the artistic director of this project. Together with Donya Speaks, she will develop the artistic concept of the project and put together the creative team. At the end of the mentoring program they will organize a face-to-face meeting with all project participants to establish contacts, conclude this phase and create the conditions for a new beginning.
