The work consists of creating and performing a new version of Kız gibi Dövüş / Fight Like a Girl specific to the 15th Havana Biennial by collaborating with local participants and by focusing on boxing which is deeply rooted in the local history and context. First introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, today boxing is considered a popular sport in Cuba. Although the ban on professional boxing in 1962 may seem to have hindered its development, Cuban style boxing earned an international reputation as a defensive style focused on tactics, precision and movement instead of offense and power. This style is deeply rooted in ‘Juego de maní’, a stick-fighting martial art and dance that was developed and practiced in Cuba by African slaves working on the sugar plantations. Complicating matters, women were banned from all forms of competition until only a few years ago. Whether this ban was driven by fears of harm to their ‘feminine’ bodies or rooted in a paternalistic culture of overprotecting women remains debatable. Thus, the realisation of Fight Like a Girl / Pelea Como Una Chica comes at a pivotal time, highlighting Cuban women and non-binary boxing practitioners while expanding the relevance of their practice beyond the context of sports.
Combat sports, while susceptible to perpetuating discrimination and gender-based violence, also serve as a powerful tool for empowerment, fostering confidence in one’s body and promoting solidarity. In this context, boxing, interwoven with political history and reflective of current social issues, establishes strong ties and deeply resonates within Cuban society.

This project was supported by SAHA.