Group Dot BR in association with The Tank presents
BACKLASH TO BRAZILIAN HAPPINESS
November 16th to 20th, 2023
Directed by
Enrique Pardo
Conceived and Performed by
Debora Balardini*
Assisted by
Andressa Furletti
Text based on “Nocturnal Daydreams” by
Guilherme Zelig
In Backlash to Brazilian Happiness, Debora Balardini delivers a poignant solo performance. Drawing subtle inspiration from the mythological character Medea, her portrayal illuminates the inner struggles faced by a survivor of sexual abuse. Through a captivating blend of movement, voice, and text, Balardini's performance serves as a powerful ode to the resilience of women, echoing the timeless themes of transformation and empowerment found in the myth of Medea, as they continually shape, deconstruct, and rebuild their identities.
'Backlash to Brazilian Happiness' will be presented as a work in progress, as we are committed to its ongoing development and evolution. Your continued support and feedback are invaluable as we shape this production.
Important: The play addresses content related to sexual abuse, which may be emotionally triggering for some people. Please consider this when deciding to watch.
Voice Coach
Jonathan Hart Makwai
Stage Manager
Tatiana Birenbaum
Associate Producer
Sergio Ducatti
Marketing & Social Media
Thais Fernandes and Andressa Furletti
Sound
Bruno Vincent
Light Designer and Operator
Anna Schultz
PR
Katie Rosin Green
Official Videos
Erika Fujyama
Official Photos
Alexia Haick
MEET THE ARTISTS
Debora Balardini (Creator / Performer): With 30 + years of unwavering commitment to the arts, expression, and movement, Debora Balardini* has traveled beyond craft to her calling as a performer, educator, director, and producer globally. With creative and cultural career roots that began in her native home of Brazil, Debora has traveled as a performer, director, and educator in Japan, Argentina, France, and Chile before making her home in New York City. Balardini has fostered a growing vision of traditional and experimental exceptionalism from voice-overs to theater acting, choreographic theatre direction, and production, from cabaret to variety, from feature films to short films. She is one of the co-founders of the award-winning Group Dot BR – NY’s only Brazilian theater company. www.deborabalardini.com
Enrique Pardo (Director): Enrique Pardo was born in Lima, Peru, in 1946, in a well-established Spanish-creole family with strong francophile connections. He spent his childhood in Peru before moving with his family to Europe, passing his French baccalauréat in Paris, studying law and economics in Madrid, graduating in painting from Chelsea School of Art, London, and teaching Fine Arts at Goldsmith College (University of London). In the 60’s he was exposed to theatre and to working with Roy Hart and the Roy Hart Theatre. As well as performing and directing, he started teaching voice within the “Roy Hart” model.
Currently he is teaching in Paris as well as the Roy Hart Artistic Center in Malerargues in the South of France.
Andressa Furletti (Assistant Director): Andressa Furletti is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist based in NY and the co-founder and artistic director of Group Dot BR. Her creative works include acting, performance art, visual arts, and filmmaking. Her artistry comes from her degrees in Biology and filmmaking, the acting conservatory training at Stella Adler Studio, and many workshops such as the Mitu Artist Intensive in Bangkok by Theater Mitu, the Watermill Center Summer Program coordinated by Robert Wilson, several encounters with Pantheatre International directors Linda Wise and Enrique Pardo and a variety of movement, dance and physical theater classes. Andressa’s diverse background produces works that often use different media types to portray things our eyes can’t see, such as patterns, feelings, and micro and macro universes. She draws inspiration from science, ancient concepts, technology and social and political issues and is interested in movement, non-linear and experimental narratives, and bending the space-time perception. She is excited and honored to work with Enrique Pardo to bring Debora Balardini's* Backlash to Brazilian Happiness to the New York theater scene. www.andressa.art
Guilherme Zelig is the author of “Nocturnal Daydreams” (2019) and “Truths and Untruths” (2020). He writes short stories and poems and has contributed to publications in Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, and the United States. “Nocturnal Daydreams” excerpts were used as a dramaturgical base for Backlash to Brazilian Happiness.
*Equity member appearing with permission of Actor’s Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this off-off-Broadway production. Equity Approved Showcase.
Actors' Equity Association (“Equity"), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks
SUPPORTERS
Angelica Walker, Materials For The Arts, Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T.), Indie Space
This project is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.
SPECIAL THANKS
Consulate General of Brazil in New York
CLICK HERE TO READ THE TANK LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
MEGHAN FINN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
MOLLY FITZMAURICE, MANAGING PRODUCER
JOHNNY LLOYD, DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
MIRANDA DAHL, TECHNICAL MANAGER
CONNOR SCULLY, MARKETING AND AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
KAELA MEI-SHING GARVIN - PROGRAMMING ASSOCIATE
MATT ROSS PR, PRESS RELATIONS
ARE YOU AN ARTIST? The Tank is committed to supporting the work of as many artists as we possibly can. We operate with open submissions, so you can email us and do a show. For info on how to submit a proposal, please visit thetanknyc.org/perform
THANKS TO OUR INDIVIDUAL DONORS With your support, we can continue facilitating emerging artists and new ideas for a good long time. By making a donation of any amount, you’ll help us help artists. To contribute visit thetanknyc.org/support
TANK BOARD Justin Krebs (President), Anthony Sunga (Secretary), Patrick Rousseau (Treasurer), Jenn de la Vega, Eric Krebs, JJ Lind, Josh Luxenberg, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Jill Rousseau, Rachel Schweitzer, Emily Perkins-Margolin
TANK ADVISORY BOARD Wesley Chow, Emma McMullin, Gregory Rae, Rachel Schweitzer, Claire Silberman, Alex Timbers
2022 TANK INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Tank’s programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
CyberTank programming is made possible by the NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund and The New York Community Trust.
Additional Rehearsal Space pre-COVID-19 made possible by the A.R.T./New York Creative Space Grant –supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Howard Gilman Foundation | The Shubert Foundation | Indie Theater Fund | The Jim Henson Foundation | Off-Broadway Greening Grant | The Puppet Slam Network | City Council Member Ben Kallos | The Mental Insight Foundation | The John Golden Fund, The New York Theater Program supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation