Teresa de Ávila – Influence and Instrument

A performance-lecture led by Hellsten and Abrantes. It fosters a playful and participatory environment where collective embodiment is co-created. Core concepts from the life and works of Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) are translated into movement, sound, imagery, and multi-sensory experiments. The performance draws inspiration from biographical episodes, Ávila’s words and teachings, as well as her iconic context and the broad influence of her legacy, which extends beyond religious boundaries to impact various cultures and eras. Ávila’s path is interpreted through both medieval and contemporary lenses – as a descendant of the religiously oppressed, an early critic of colonialism, a scholar, an introspective seeker, an ecstatic vessel and weaver of visions, a role model, an influencer, and an instrument.