“A Safe House in Tenderloin”
at “Ice on Fire”
Feb. 2nd in the afternoon
203 Country Club Road, Montpelier, VT
“A Safe House in Tenderloin,” created by Lucada Mélange, featuring Carmen’s “Habanera” by Bizet sung by Dianna Cortez (mezzo-soprano), Donna Ahmadi (Butoh & choreography), and Derek J. Weagle (orchestral arrangement) is an eco-feminist and female reclamation piece highlighting the history of crime, drugs, and prostitution in the Garment District, formerly known as the “Tenderloin District.” With the resonances of “Blue Bird” by Bukowski, this piece explores themes that allude to the right to a woman’s safe house in her body and a deep yearning to be freed from human trafficking. The window display will be performed as an interdisciplinary artwork in Beyond Fashion, a month-long immersive installation festival. Please wander by for unique performances that are free and open to the public.
*Please note that this inter-artwork is discreetly beautiful and can be viewed by people of all ages.
Interdisciplinary Art: Opera, Butoh, Music Arrangement, Costume, Sets, Poetic themes, Immersive-Installation.
Chroma
“Chroma” is an award-winning, site-specific Butoh film by Lucada Mélange, featuring Donna Ahmadi (Butoh/props/film), Dianna Cortez (singer/Butoh/composer), and Derek J. Weagle (composer). This eco-feminist work explores the winter Crone archetype, symbolizing endings and rebirth. Two women sustained by friendship journey through the harsh winter, but inevitably must continue alone. The Crone gradually becomes the frozen landscape, embodying the cycle’s completion and inviting reflection on impermanence. She re-emerges, revealing color beneath the snow—intuition growing from the smallest seed signaling renewal. “Chroma” was shown at UNFIX NYC Film Festival 2025, where it won the Special-Interdisciplinary Award.
“Chroma” Performed Live :
Ice On Fire Festival
Feb. 4th, 2024
Montpelier, VT
“Chroma” film
shared at UNFIX NYC
May 14, 2025
NYC, NY
Bugnik Advice
"Bugnik Advice," created by Donna Ahmadi & Dianna Cortez, is a social commentary on receiving unsolicited advice at times that diminishes the person receiving it's ability to make their own decisions.
It's a jazzy chatter between Beatnik city bugs, a feral cat on a sax, a rat, and society.
Interdisciplinary Artwork: vocal jazz improvisational composition, puppetry, art film.
Performed at RenGyoSoh Performance Party 2024
