© Roberta Segata

Heart Brake

Giulia Damiani
Wed 3 Dec ’25 - Fri 5 Dec ’25
Where the broken heart becomes a revolutionary force.
Wed 3 Dec ’25
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Fri 5 Dec ’25

Heartbrokenness is more than an affective state and is said to be ‘at the heart of all revolutionary consciousness’. As two figures labour on stage using rocks, drums and the voice, they evoke the legendary folk saint Wilgefortis, protector of heartbroken people, via an interpretive concert and prayer. 

Also known as Sint Ontkommer, Wilgefortis is an ancient bearded-woman whose gruesome story and gender-transgressive identity offered protection and inspiration to people breaking from violent conventions. The two figures explore vocal registers beyond gender binaries while embodying the sounding and imagery of manual rock-splitting. Who’s allowed to give the blow and who’s forced to receive it in today’s society? Once struck, the space will vibrate.

The choreographic score emerges in the movement between breath, voice and song; signalling the subversive irony that is experienced in the path to setting oneself, and each other, free. The performance includes a tribute to Ulrike Ottinger’s 1981 iconic film Freak Orlando through a punk opera concert.

  • Premiere: Thu Dec. 4th
  • Language: English
  • Duration: 50 mins. 

Credits

concept, director and writer Giulia Damiani performed and developed by Giulia Damiani in collaboration with Luísa Saraiva production and artistic advice Isobel Dryburgh sound design Leroy Chaar costume and scene design Publik Universal Frxnd light design advice Leroy Chaar rock-splitting training Alberto Damiani
with the support of Amsterdams Fonds Voor den Kust 23-24, Centrale Fies, Mondriaan Fonds 24, Rozenstraat - a rose is a rose is a rose, Voordekunst residency support Dance Space Destiny (Amsterdam), If I Can’t Dance I Don’t Want to be Part of Your Revolution (Amsterdam), CRL (Porto), Centrale Fies (Dro), De Sloot (Amsterdam) special acknowledgements for the support Sara Giannini, Jodi Gilbert, Fariborz Karimi, Mark Redele, Barnaby Savage, Merel Severs, Angeliki Tzortzakaki and Dan Walwin

About Giulia Damiani

Giulia Damiani is an Italian artist based in Amsterdam who works with text and performance. Her work creates provocative performative situations, often starting from a sound investigation, posing urgent questions about violence, language, and a mythical and ecological territory.

Recently she was an Atlas resident at ImPulsTanz (2025) where she started developing her new piece Apology for fire (coming 2026).

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