MITbr - BRAZIL PLATFORM
I Have a Story That Seems Like Mine
ARTIST: Tetembua Dandara
120 min | Age Rating: Free (children welcome)

March 21 & 22 (Friday & Saturday) | 7 PM
Centro Cultural São Paulo
SYNOPSIS
This work spans different generations of artist Tetembua Dandara’s family. It is brought to life through the encounter between the performer and her grandmother, Dirce Poli, with interventions from her mother, Neuza Poli, and her sister, Mafoane Odara. The installation invites the audience into a space reminiscent of a grandmother’s living room, a backyard, or even a 1990s party. Here, narratives are reconstructed through voices, flavors, and gazes, allowing the audience to move freely through the space and stories for as long as they wish. The piece originates from the artist’s photo book of the same name, which features blank (and black) spaces, creating a dialogue between images and minimal words.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Tetembua Dandara is a performer, photographer, and cultural producer. She holds a degree in Performing Arts from Unicamp and a specialization in Contemporary Cultural Management from Instituto Singularidades and Itaú Cultural. Working in theater and dance, she is committed to horizontal production formats and is actively involved in artistic collectives such as ciadasatrizes, Cia LCT, Pérfida Iguana, and Grupo do Trecho. Alongside Dirce Poli, Neuza Poli, and Mafoane Odara, she created both the photo book and performance I Have a Story That Looks Like Mine. Her collaborations with UltraVioleta_s, Leandro Souza, and Bruta Flor Filmes seek to challenge systems and bring alternative imaginaries to life.
CRITICAL RECEPTION
“Tetembua’s dramaturgy operates in a highly sophisticated way. Rather than through textual discourse or technical aspects of creation, the performance maneuvers its themes and imagery by tuning the audience into a particular state of presence—a willingness to listen to the voices around them, much like the feeling of being among people we admire and love. Crafting this intricate web is no small task.” Daniele Avila Small
“The performance stands out for its ability to expose the act of theater-making with insight and delicacy, drawing us back into the family and the political statements it carries—between the continuity and rupture of narratives, their affiliations, and their gaps.” Carolina Wos, em Deus Ateu
CREDITS
Concept & Performance: Tetembua Dandara
Performance: Dirce Poli, Neuza Poli & Mafoane Odara
Visual Concept: Daniela Alves, Matias Ivan Arce & Renan Marcondes
Photography: Tetembua Dandara & Mariana Chama
Video: Bruna Lessa & Cacá Bernardes | Bruta Flor Filmes
Lighting: Gabriele Souza
Set & Stage Technician: Matias Ivan Arce
Sound Technician: Cauê Gouveia
Production & Stage Management: Mariana Dias & Tati Mayumi
Production Director: Tetembua Dandara