Two people in dark clothing on a stage in dynamic poses. The person in the foreground appears focused and seems to be performing a combative movement. In the background, a fabric in shades of blue and yellow is visible.
A person is sitting on stage at a table with a laptop, MIDI keyboard, and microphone, singing with their eyes closed. In the background, two other people are moving, partially out of focus. On the table are white mugs and a thermos.
Two people in dynamic poses in front of a blue and yellow cloth.

PAS MOI

Diana Anselmo

Milan

PAS MOI is a lecture performance that analyses the origins of the first technical devices for creating, transmitting, and recording sounds from the perspective of Deaf people. Many of these achievements were developed with audist and eugenic intentions: being Deaf was considered a sickness to be healed – instead of being recognized as a cultural identity. For example, in the 19th century devices for language recording were invented to be used in the context of so-called language therapy as an instrument of an involuntary re-education. Hearing could now be measured and depicted technically, as an object made of data and numbers, from which an ostensible ‘norm’ could be derived. Diana Anselmo illuminates the origin stories of these technologies that are in use even today. What if we would conceive of it from a different starting point? Beyond deficits – further ahead, in another future.

 

Diana Anselmo is a Deaf performer, writer and activist. Growing up bilingual with LIS (Italian Sign Language) and Italian spoken language, Diana Anselmo debuted during their Master's degree in Theater and Performing Arts at the IUAV in Venice with the performance Autoritratto in 3 atti, which was also invited to the Festival Theaterformen in 2024. In 2022, Diana Anselmo took part in Le Sacre du Printemps by Saša Asentić and Xavier Le Roy. Diana Anselmo is a founding member of Al.Di.Qua., the first association in Europe by and for disabled artists, for whom they have participated as a speaker at various European festivals. 

Production credits

Concept, Performance and Visuals Diana Anselmo Performers Diana Anselmo, Daniel Bongioanni, Antonio Dominelli Sound, Composition Antonio Dominelli Text of the Sing Song Paddy Ladd Dramaturgy Piersandra di Matteo Coaching Research and Performance Material Saša Asentić Executive Producer Chiasma Photo Katrin Ribbe

In co-production with Scuola Piccola Zattere, Festival Theaterformen, Gessnerallee Zürich, Fuorimargine Centro di Produzione di Danza e Arti Performative della Sardegna and Danae Festival.

Pas Moi is supported by the network R.O.M (Residencies On the Move) at Reykjavik Dance Festival at the invitation of Santarcangelo Festival. R.O.M is supported by the European Union in the framework of the program Creative Europe, Conseil des arts de Montréal and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec; realized with the support of Italian Cultural Institute Oslo, Italian Cultural Institute Berlin and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.