From 25 February to 2 March 2025, the city of Marseille hosted a key moment in the
European project TRANScenDANCE, dedicated to exploring gender identity, inclusion,
and artistic performance through dance and theatre. The event, organised by the
company Cie Essevesse, took place across two venues—Klap Maison pour la Danse
and CMA Roucas Blanc—and brought together artists, performers, researchers, and
activists from across Europe.

The first days featured the participation of Lee Ferrero, president of TRANSAT, who led
an in-depth training session on gender identity and inclusion. Through a combination of
theoretical input and interactive activities, participants explored key concepts such as
gender assignment at birth, sexual development, non-binary identities, and the
importance of self-determination.

One of the most significant aspects of the training was the invitation to reflect on
inclusive practices in everyday life, such as respectful language and normalising the use
of pronouns. The session concluded with an identity mapping exercise, where
participants positioned themselves on a diagram to visualise the fluidity of gender
identities and sexual orientations.

In the afternoon, the programme shifted to body-based experimentation with two
workshops led by Lou Pioupiou and Antonino Ceresia from Cie Essevesse. The first,
"Spiral Movement Exploration", guided participants in creating a collective choreography
based on improvisation and spatial awareness. The second, "Being Me and the
Extension of the Other", explored movement through concrete and abstract imagery,
encouraging reflection on how the body can express and transcend gender stereotypes.

Project partners Bazaart and Nexus also contributed with their own workshops, further
enriching the training and performative experience. Bazaart proposed a pathway
exploring the relationship between body, space, and narration, using tools from physical
theatre and contemporary dance to delve into the concept of fluid identity. Participants
engaged in the collective creation of movement sequences, reflecting on how the body
can be a vehicle for both personal and collective stories.

Nexus, with choreographer Simona Bertozzi and researcher Ariadne Mikou, focused on
the connection between artistic research and gender studies. Through improvisation
practices and movement analysis, participants experimented with new ways of relating
to their bodies and to stage space, challenging traditional categorisations of movement
and stage presence.

In the following days, invited artist Loélia Essadi led a workshop on Afro-descendant
dance forms, showing how movement can serve as a powerful tool for empowerment
and reconnection with one’s roots. In parallel, LaJoven presented a "Creative Training"
method aimed at strengthening body awareness and group cohesion through
improvisation and theatrical games.

Another key moment was the "Body Awareness, Integration, and Empowerment"
workshop led by GAMMA Genesis. Participants focused on the perception of their own
bodies, exploring the concept of polarity (masculine and feminine), and concluded with a
guided meditation designed to reinforce the authenticity of the self.

The days in Marseille offered a unique opportunity for exchange, encounter, and growth.
Feedback collected from participants highlighted the importance of creating safe and
inclusive spaces where movement and dance can become tools for both personal and
collective exploration. Participants appreciated the diversity of approaches and
underlined how the interplay of theory and practice allowed for a deeper engagement
with complex themes.

TRANScenDANCE continues its journey with the aim of promoting artistic and
pedagogical practices capable of challenging stereotypes and fostering a culture of
diversity. The project now moves on to its next stages, with the awareness that the path
toward a more inclusive art begins with the recognition and celebration of difference.

➡️ Click here (Deliverables) to download and read the full report from the
TRANScenDANCE International Training: “Exchange of Good Practices on Inclusion
and Accessibility for Trans and Non-Binary People”.