In his work Guerrilla, Renan Martin is inspired by Aminta Cairo, Ph.D. Her passion is to use her academic skills to positively impact communities and among other things she has written the book Holding Space.
This is her text for the Guerrilla program:
Can you see me? Can you hear me? Can you feel me? Is my story really allowed to be here? Can I trust you, to hold the space for me? Can I really be here in the fullness and complexity of who I am? Will you be here and witness? Will you stay, even when it gets uncomfortable? Are you brave enough? Do you care enough? Are you humble enough? Are you committed enough? If so, then let’s move on. Let’s do this. Let’s go there. Hold the Space for me, so I can go there… and beyond.
My name is Aminata Cairo and I would like for you to Hold Space with me for Renan and Cullberg. Holding Space is that act to hold space for the fullness and complexity of our story, usually within a context of inequities. Our stories are rich and complex and have so much to offer to enrich our land- and living scape. Unfortunately because of a particular history we have created environments where certain stories or elements of certain stories are highly favoured over others. As a result, we censor ourselves or in other ways limit the fullness of expression. We don’t shine as brightly as we can.
We have created this, we as human beings. Because of that we can undo it. We can create better spaces, spaces where we may enter and just be, without apologies, explanations, justifications or adaptations. How do we do that? We do that by grounding ourselves, breathing, being open and being present. We let go of the stories that cling to us that no longer serve us. We are aware, don’t try to fight, relax and let go. That is what I want you to do here today, for Renan, for the dancers. Be here, be present, be open, don’t judge.
Let’s hold the space for them so we can be transformed.