The Other

As the audience enters, Maia is on the floor in the center of the stage, already struggling with an inner battle. The isolated movements from her chest imitate the act of one fighting for breath.

The silent struggle becomes unbearable, and eventually she stands up. It is clear that she is unwillingly holding something back as she tries to form words. Finally locking eyes with those who’re observing her, she yearns for the will to say something unbeknownst to herself. The shadows on the wall surround her, personifying the voices of others in her head which silence her. This concept is timeless in itself as people across the globe fight for their lives to be heard. In order for change to happen, we must speak up. And yet, often the ones who are fighting their hardest to join the conversation are the ones who aren’t given the chance to speak. As a result, their voices, as well as their basic human rights are taken away, and there is an evident imbalance of power. These ‘silencing wars’ can go on for years, and be passed down to the next generation, and so on.

Eventually in her solo, Maia finds the strength one can possess despite a lack of verbal prowess. Her movements become sharper and more playful in an ironic way. She is aware of her power and it unsettles her observers. However, she doesn’t seem to care about their thoughts as she “moves them with her silence”.