Reclaiming the Goddess
Reclaiming the Goddess (RTG) is focused on women empowerment and its concept evolved from Zahira's personal experiences with #metoo. But, instead of focusing on the suffering of sexual abuse traumas, RTG hones in how we women can find our own power back, with the notion that this power already resides within us.
Elements that are strongly present in this performance are strength, vulnerability, healing, and a community of sacred sisters. This performance is a deep-cutting and meaningful journey; a way to wholeness.
In December 2018, Zahira publicly revealed the sexual abuse she had suffered in the hands of the spiritual 'healer' known as John of God. This turned her, unintentionally, into the face of the #metoo movement in Brazil, which hadn't started there yet prior. Zahira's story was shared worldwide after her interview in the Brazilian talk show Conversa com Bial, including the New York Times as well as by the largest tv and news outlets in the Netherlands.
Photo: Sjoerd Derine. Dancer: Jacqueline Back
an artistic toolkit of healing
Within a month, 600 women came forward who also shared having been abused by "John of God." Zahira came out with her story with the hope to break the silence around sexual abuse, and so that more women would be able to reclaim their voice.
From the painful journey, Zahira turned 'poison into medicine.' Reclaiming the Goddess was created in co-creation with an incredibly team of women.
documentary
In 2019 and 2020, Zahira became consultant to the docu-series Em Nome de Deus (streaming on GloboPlay) and the footage that didn't make the series became a short docu, which is about the process of Reclaiming the Goddess. Click here or on the photo to watch it. It's 5 minutes. Director: Giancarlo Bellotti.
Filmed in Friesland and Theater De Lawei, Drachten.
It is the unseen footage of the docu-series Em Nome de Deus (In the Name of God), streaming on GloboPlay, screenplay by Camila Appel.
Camera: Giancarlo Bellotti & Dudu Levy
Producer: Anelise Franco
Editors: Diego Ribeiro & Tiago Sipriano
Reclaiming the Goddess concept & performance: Zahira Mous
Dance & co-creation: Maria Kuchowicz, Merel Cornet, Jacqueline Back, Ivana Berkhout
Cello performance & composition: Laura Roura i Foixà
Costumes: Inez van der Meer l Meer International & Zahira Mous
Producer: Healing Arts Foundation
Music: Ezio Bosso “Rain in your black eyes”, Nessi Gomes “All Related”, Tycho “A walk” Licensed to YouTube by Merlin SC Distribution (on behalf of Ghostly International); AMRA, UMPI, Kobalt Music Publishing, LatinAutor, and 16 Music Rights Societies.