Reimagining history. Inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, Tambourines is Trajal Harrell’s dedication to all those women who in the past could not decide about their bodies. Divided into three acts – fornication, education, celebration – Tambourines rewrites the story of Hester Prynne, condemned in the novel to wear the scarlet letter (the A of adultery) for having a child outside of marriage, imagining an alternative ending. What if the townspeople had supported Hester instead of judging her? What if the child had been welcomed with joy? Trajal Harrell, Silver Lion of the 2024 Biennale Danza, is optimistic and imagines a celebratory dance. A feminist show, long imagined by the American choreographer, Tambourines is a reflection on gender, history, and social constraints.

2, 3 August h. 18
Tese dei Soppalchi, Arsenale