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The Voice
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   rita mazza

rita mazza
visual sign choreographer, performance artist and actor

Rita Mazza (they/she) is a Visual Sign Choreographer and performance artist based in Berlin. They work within contemporary dance, sign languages and visual poetry as well as an actor and sign language interpreter/ performer. As a native signer from a Deaf family, sign language has always been at the center of their identity and artistic expression. Born in Turin, Italy, their first language is Italian Sign Language (LIS). They are furthermore fluent in German (DGS) and International Sign Language (IS) and have good knowledge of French (LSF).

“My strength lies in molding sign language movement into choreography. I love to experiment with layering as well as combining signs and hand shapes. I use movement, rhythm and repetition to naturally let something take form that has a melody of its own. I do feel like a composer in this process, albeit a visual one and hence call my practice Visual Sign Choreography.”...

Their path of professionalization began at the University of Music, Performing Arts, Cinema and New Media in Turin and was further shaped by the various works in festivals, performances and collaborations across Europe. In 2015 their leading role in the award-winning play Children of a Lesser God directed by Marco Mattolini, successfully introduced them to professional (hearing) theaters. From 2018 to 2020 they were invited to join the Festival del Silenzio in Milan as artistic director.  

In 2021 Mazza was an artist-in-residence at the Berlin hub Making a Difference and deepened their explorations in sign language and dance, leading to their first solo work Dandelion II (2021). Their following creation Space 1880 (2021) was presented at the Sophiensæle Berlin. In 2024 their work Matters of Rhythm (2023–24) was presented at the Tanzplattform Deutschland, which showcases the most innovative and remarkable works in contemporary dance. Their current project, The Voice (2024–26), premiered at the renowned Tanz im August Festival in Berlin and continues to tour internationally.  

As a performer they draw a strong stage presence from their acting background and have collaborated with various artists such as: Saša Asentić, Perel, Sophia Neises and Jefta van Dinther. Furthermore, they have shared and developed work internationally with Riksteatern Crea and Skånes Dansteater in Sweden.  

Alongside their own artistic works, Mazza is an active consultant and curator for sign language access in the performing arts and served as a guest curator for the international Festival Theaterformen in 2023. They also offer workshops about their practice of Visual Sign Choreography and Aesthetics of Access in which they focus on sign language as an integral artistic part and process of the creation.  



Photo by Yichen Liao


rita mazza
ritamaz@gmail.com
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05.The Voice

Visual Sign Choreography / Performance
Trailer
2024


The way we sound and the noises we make are often judged and regulated by society. From the perspective of someone who grew up with Italian Sign Language as a first language, choreographer Rita Mazza deconstructs the labels imposed on the various uses of “voice” - including their own. In this new performance of the same title, Mazza explores the intimate relationships between identity, sexuality, and vocal articulation, while questioning control, solidarity, and shame. Developed through an artistic process that considers accessibility from the outset, The Voice is a powerful challenge to the dominant culture that frames hearing as the norm.


Created + performed by: Rita Mazza I Light Design: Raquel Rosildete I Stage Design + Video: Camille Lacadee I Dramaturgy + Artistic Collaboration on Access: Noa Winter, Sophie Guisset I Costume Design + Video Animation: Evan Loxton I Movement + Choreographic Consulting: Gabriel Galindez Cruz I Dance + Choreography Collaboration: Maria Giulia Serantoni I DGS Performer: Aurelia Schäfer I Audio Description + Tactile Tour: Ari Althaus, Johanna Krins, Gina Jeske I Photography: Mayra Wallraff I Production Management + Support: Tiphaine Carrère, Jette Büchsenschütz I Production Preparation: Agnes Kern I DGS/English/German Translations for Internal Team Work: I Stella Papantonatos, Alma Arnoul, Viviane Grünberger I Pre-Show Access + Access Collaboration: analu I Outside Eye: Mathias Schaefer I Lighting Assistance: Alexandra Úhlarová
A production by Rita Mazza Co-production: Tanz im August / HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm, Kampnagel Funded by: Fonds Darstellende Künste In cooperation with SOPHIENSÆLE.
Photography: Mayra Wallraff