Dramaturgie(s) décoloniale(s)

In the frame of Vitamines B (La Bellone) and Open Studios (workspacebrussels), Castélie Yalombo Lilonge and Antoine Dupuy Larbre host a seminar on Decolonial Dramaturgy(ies). This seminar aims to map existing individual and collective practices while listening to participants’ concerns and perspectives. The goal is to foster more inclusive and decolonial reflections and practices in the field of dramaturgy.

This seminar is part of a seminar series organized by La Bellone. It aims to foster a true exchange of knowledge and to offer a space for experimentation. Far from traditional academic training, it starts from a concrete issue faced by an invited practitioner and encourages collective research rather than simply transmitting knowledge. The approach is based on active engagement, the sharing of knowledge, and collaborative practices.

Who is this seminar for?

This seminar is open to anyone who:

• Has an interest in dialogical practices or is involved—directly or indirectly—in artistic production and practice.
• Feels an affinity with or appreciation for decolonial, postcolonial, anticolonial, antiracist, Pan-African, and anti-imperialist ideas.
• Wishes to align their practice, even temporarily, with their convictions by questioning dominant structures.

Objectives of the seminar

• To form a chosen-mixity group of Afro-descendant and non-Afro-descendant participants (black / non-black, and/or white / non-white) who are interested in the role of "dialoguers" within artistic practices.
• To collectively examine the relationships between artists, dramaturges, works, performers, and institutions through the lens of power dynamics, racism, and coloniality.
• To facilitate a research space where each participant actively contributes to the inquiry.
• To alternate between mixed and non-mixed working sessions to observe the relational dynamics at play in group discussions.

Key questions explored

The seminar will encourage collective engagement with essential questions:

• What is decolonial dramaturgy? What could its practice look like? What are its foundations? What kinds of works would it produce?
• How can we understand issues of legitimacy, power, and domination in interpersonal and professional relationships?
• What strategies can help reclaim autonomy from dominant narratives?
• How can we engage with the expectations and artistic languages of whiteness in art (the white gaze), and (refuse to) respond to them?
• How can we address these questions together without seeking definitive solutions?

Public discussions to enrich the reflection

In addition to the seminar, Castélie Yalombo Lilonge and Antoine Dupuy Larbre will organise public discussions on Wednesday, 23 April 2025, and Thursday, 24 April 2025, at 11am at Arthis, La Bellone’s neighbours. These sessions will feature guest speakers Véronique Clette-Gakuba and Maxime Jean-Baptiste, who will help expand on the broader issues explored during the seminar. These exchanges will offer a wider perspective on the practices and challenges of decolonial dramaturgies.