Open House of Legacies

In this program, we explore the representation of Femmes in pop culture by zooming in on the 2010s, through the archive and legacy of Femme Lethal. Femme Lethal was a dance collective of five makers, mainly active between 2012 and 2014. Their mission was to make different aspects of Femme‑ness visible and to claim space for stories, physicality and power. The work of Femme Lethal did not stand alone. Other Femme makers also engage with similar questions. In this program we talk about these topics with:

Junadry Leocaria, Amber Vineyard, Sarita Saradi and Josephine Zwaan

Together, they reflect on the necessity of their work, the reactions they received, and how this movement continues to resonate today.

The conversation moves along three themes. We look at the representation of Femmes in hip‑hop spaces and how they claim their place there. Next, we discuss danger, insecurity and aggression in relation to claiming space. When Black bodies become visible and occupy spaces, they are often confronted with stereotyping and hostility, while they themselves experience insecurity and aggression. -|-

Finally, we examine the body as a form of resistance and how makers use physicality to question patriarchal structures.

By connecting the archive of Femme Lethal with the voices of contemporary makers, this program shows how Femmes have been claiming and creating space for years.

Programme

15:00 – 18:00 doors open to view the archives
19:00 – 20:30 panel discussion

In April and May 2026, The Need for Legacy will organize Open House of Legacies: two editions, on 9 April and 28 May 2026. These gatherings bring together performing artists of color and professionals from the cultural sector to actively contribute to the ongoing development of the (digital) archive of House of Legacies.

Open House of Legacies is designed as an open house where stories, images, memories, and documents from both past and present are shared and documented. The archive is approached as a living and growing platform shaped through dialogue with the makers and communities involved. Central to this process is the question of how those involved wish their heritage to be preserved, described, and shared—now and for future generations.

The gatherings create space for intergenerational exchange and collective reflection. Participants explore which stories are already visible, which perspectives are still missing, and how the archive can continue to be enriched and passed on. Both makers already represented in the archive and new contributors are explicitly invited to participate. -|-

During Open House of Legacies, participants are encouraged to:

• Share their own archival materials, such as photos, programs, documents, data, and personal stories.
• Contribute ideas about the representation and context of their work and history.
• Help build a more complete and multi‑voiced understanding of the shared history.
• Engage in conversation with makers, thinkers, and community members from different generations.