When I was invited to write a piece about censorship, my first thought was that, as an immigrant artist with a temporary work permit in the US, I should not speak out on this subject matter in the current climate. I might get punished for it. However, I was born and raised in Germany and happen to know a thing or two about the topic. That prior knowledge is PRECISELY why I decided to share some thoughts here.
As a choreographer and dance filmmaker, diversity and inclusion have always been an intrinsic mission of my work. Without being initially aware of it, looking back at the body of my work, a common theme that recurs is a focus on our shared humanity and a celebration of human diversity. I’ve always felt that working with a cast of artists from a variety of different backgrounds enhances both the process of collaborating on a film or stage production, as well as the work itself.
I’ve been working on my Dance Theater project “Human-Layers of Identity” for a few years now. The work features an all-female cast composed of immigrant artists, and it explores themes of identity, belonging, and empathy. A previous iteration of this work was titled “US”, which could be read as an acronym, as well as a pronoun. When I presented this piece, I was in the process of renewing my artist visa. My lawyer advised me to change the title to “Us” so as not to raise any red flags. “WOW!” is really the only response that comes to mind. This was my first brush with having to censor myself, and it didn't feel great, particularly because I had no ill intentions.
Growing up in Germany we were reminded from an early age not to repeat the mistakes of the past. It taught me that silence is complicity and equals consent. It's for that reason that I must continue creating work that will hopefully spark important conversations about discrimination and exclusion, that will challenge preconceptions, create spaces for healing and understanding, and center around the power of inclusivity.
Only through staying alert and taking action can we make sure that history doesn't repeat itself.
