Multiple hands holding tangled multicolored yarn on a rough surface.

Outreach

A large tree with green foliage has a butterfly with a woman's face and wings that resemble plant leaves and butterfly wings. The butterfly is adorned with feathers and has keys hanging from its wings. Inked vessels or keys hang from its antennae. Letters are woven into the roots of the tree, surrounded by vines, plants, a small musical instrument, a violin, and other floral elements.

Lucada Mélange strives to connect with our communities by creating performances and hosting talk-back discussions at local schools, universities, and social/environmental centers. We aim to raise awareness about essential community needs and promote healthy transformation and healing through the arts.

A large, elaborate house with multiple towers and pointed windows, designed as a dress. The dress has a bodice with floral decorations and a skirt made of colorful flowers. A mannequin with a bob haircut and face painted black is incorporated into the design, blending into the house-construct as the upper part of the dress.

“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,” a grotesque name given to the previous Red Light District, just south of Time Square when Broadway Theatres were being established in the late 19th century.

This piece highlights Carmen by Bizet and interrelates with Bukowski's poem “Bluebird.” It portrays a woman’s safe house in her body and juxtaposes Carmen’s tough exterior with the Bluebird inside her cage. 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 interdisciplinary artwork combines Butoh, Opera, Poetry, and Composition. It is meant for all audiences and intends to be shared with schools and communities to promote relevant discussions around human trafficking and empathy to soften stigma.

To bring this to your school or community for education and talkback discussions—please get in touch with us here:

“A Safe House in Tenderloin”