A Religious Mating

Collective Naila, Nano Luque & Leila Patzies /

Language: English

A Religious Mating is a socially critical piece investigating the reproductive phenomenon of an insect species known as the praying mantis. Nano and Leila researched its mating and identified movement patterns and behaviors that can be translated and compared to those of human species and structures. The mantis' copulation is the inspiration for this work, which proposes a critique of gender roles and the lack of representation of women within heteropatriarchal structures.
This is one of the few reproductive events within the animal kingdom that focuses on the welfare and needs of the female, rather than the male. In a world such as ours, which dispenses of the female exemplar, being a praying mantis is not only a statement but a duty.

Concept: Nano Luque
Choreographic directors: Nano Luque & Leila Patzies
Original music: Borna Kafaie & Elias Fabré
Performers: Nano Luque & Leila Patzies

length of production: 18 mins

Collective Naila is born from the need to connect, Leila and Nano, and to communicate problems of our daily society. We believe in communications that trigger processes of thought, instead of those that are so straightforward and direct that may hinder these processes, or even scare people away from sinking into self-questioning dynamics. We believe in a horizontal society, where elite vanishes, and we are all treated with equity regardless of our backgrounds, and whatever society tries to label us with.