Studio Series: Close Embrace: A Participatory Memoir Play

Written by: Irene Zhiyi Chen
​Directed by: Becka Morton and Irene Zhiyi Chen

When Irene took up Argentine tango in 2022, the new dance steps propelled her to reach toward a shared history—her memories of watching her mom dance tango. In Close Embrace: A Participatory Memoir Play, Irene traces her and her mom’s tango journeys, moving through the intricate mechanics of partner dancing, the mother-child relationship, and their experiences with body, gender, and intimacies. The play also invites the audience to move, to connect with themselves, their memories, and each other. Through queering partner dancing and queering intergenerational intimacy, this play asks: How does it feel to move and be moved? What does it mean to be held?

This show invites audience members to engage in low-impact, gentle movements that travel around the space. We recommend that you arrive in unrestrictive clothing. If you would like to share any access needs or questions, please do not hesitate to contact [T&D email].

Run time: around 90 minutes. Open to ages 14+