Tanzfabrik
Berlin
Stage
Stage
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Uferstudios 12
Badstr. 41A, Uferstr. 23
13357 Berlin
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Photo: Universität Maastricht, in-vision.org

Islamic Feminism(s): Challenges, Contestations and Decoloniality

Seminar & Workshop by Lana Sirri, Saboura Naqshband
In the frame of Tanznacht Forum: Feminist School Berlin

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This workshop adopts an intersectional perspective to examine strategies that Islamic feminists have developed to question constellations of power associated with concepts such as sexism, patriarchy, and (feminist) neo-Orientalism. The aim is to make colonially shaped knowledge about the connections between Islam, gender and feminism visible and to change it towards a decolonial perspective. This will be achieved by including life experiences and knowledge production in different regions within and beyond the "Muslim world". Participants will take an active role in appropriating this knowledge, and figuring out how to use intersectional Islamic feminism in their own work.

Complementing Lana's theoretically oriented workshop, Saboura will offer a movement session. «Muslim:a Dance Empowerment» is aimed at BIPOC individuals who want to explore what discriminatory and racist mind-input means to them on a sensorial, bodily level. Through a guided movement meditation the BIPOC participants will have the chance to let their thoughts, ideas and experiences settle in, in order to find a sense of integration, awareness and fluidity. Saboura is a Transformative Dance Facilitator; their session will hold space for free, guided and ecstatic movement in order to facilitate empowerment, self-affirmation, sacred space and healing. All bodies of culture (BIPOC) are welcome.

Please note
Based on sign-ups, the group may be split for the second half of the afternoon: into a BIPoC group for a brief empowerment session, and a White group for an awareness workshop focused on whiteness and privilege.

Attention: The places are limited and a registration is necessary. We urgently ask you to cancel  in advance if you can't come.

Access Information
The seminar and workshop will last a total of 3 hours with two breaks of minimum 10-15 minutes after 45 minutes. The main language will be English or German, or a combination of both, as agreed with the group. Questions can also be asked in Arabic and Hebrew. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The seminar and workshop will take place in Studio 12 at Uferstudios. For detailed directions, click ↪ here. It is a no-stairs, wheelchair accessible dance studio with three glass doors to the courtyard. It is regularly aired during all breaks and the hygiene regulations in force at the time will be observed. The accessible toilet is located in the booth opposite, in front of Studio 3. It is necessary to walk about 6 meters outdoors to reach it. In the event of bad weather, we will provide extra cleaning facilities. There will be 15 chairs and 15 beanbags freely available for seating. If you would like to reserve a beanbag in advance or if you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Juan Harcha by mail at: harcha@tanzfabrik-berlin.de or by phone at: 030-200 592 70.

Information about our team and our awareness guidelines can be found ↪ here.

Lana Sirri

Dr. Lana Sirri completed her Ph.D. studies at the Center for Transdisciplinary Gender Studies at Humboldt University. Her research lies at the intersection of religion and gender and critically explores Islamic feminisms. Lana has published numerous articles on this topic. She also completed a book titled “Introduction to Islamic Feminisms” (2017), which introduces Islamic feminism to a non-academic audience of German-speaking activists.  She is a co-founder of the Berlin Muslim feminist group.

Saboura Naqshband

Saboura Naqshband (she/they/they) works academically, activistically and artistically on the topics of racism critique, intersectionality, decoloniality and migrant resistance. As a political scientist, she advises and accompanies model projects nationwide in the field of diversity and anti-discrimination. She is a member of the postcolonial education lab (b*lab), as well as co-founder of the collective 'Berlin Muslim Feminists' (BMF). As a Transformative Dance Facilitator, Saboura particularly empowers Muslim and/or racialized women and queer people through art and cultural education. Most recently, her contribution to the postcolonial education manifesto, "Places of Learning" (2021), was published, as well as the new edition of her translation of Lana Sirri's "Introduction to Islamic Feminisms" (2020). Saboura is also co-founder of the collective Berlin Muslim Feminists.
Duration: 180 minutes
English and German. Brief translations into Arabic and Hebrew are possible.
Admission free
Registration required
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