A butch is a butch is a buch is a butch – Sterud/Kongsness (NO)

“The sequel to Butch Tribute; a tribute to queer, female masculinity!”

The performance series Butch Tribute is an artistic and political work that explores what a butch is and can be, by and with the dance artists Marte Reithaug Sterud and Ann-Christin Kongsness. The term “butch” is used to describe masculine women in the queer community – a group that is often marginalized or rendered invisible. Sterud/Kongsness tackle various portrayals of queer, female masculinity in this project to contribute to the diversification of butch representation.

A Butch is a Butch is a Butch is a Butch focuses on the role of language in identity formation, bridging the personal and the political. The title references author Gertrude Stein’s famous phrase “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” from the poem Sacred Emily from 1913. As choreographers, Sterud/Kongsness develop the text in parallel with its performance. The text oscillates between the abstract and the explicit, weaving together queer and lesbian references. They delve into queer, female masculinity in all its forms throughout history and up to the present day, highlighting connections between queer and feminist struggles. With an original composed soundtrack by Kari-Helene Blystad and Ragnhild Nelvik Bruseth, Sterud/Kongsness move from the rhythmic to the fluid, both in language and in body. They are both laidback and sharp as they give voice to the butch.

Tickets Wednesday 06.09 – 20:30 Tickets Thursday 07.09 – 20:30

Credits