Cuban queer artist Henry Rodríguez stood out with Pulling Scales, ‘a brave, magical solo’ according to the jury, ‘ which makes a lasting impression and reveals an artist with significant potential to further develop his choreographic voice’.
(Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2025)
THEATERKRANT.NL
Pulling Scales
AN INTENSE IMMERSION IN IDENTITY, OPPRESSION AND RESILIENCE, INSPIRED BY CUBA AND SURREALISM.
Is it a lizard? A caiman? Or maybe just a dog? Or just a human… All we know is that it is green, sensual, crazy and hungry for change.
For a long time, people in Cuba have been stuck in a hard, endless cycle. They are crushed like insects under the pressure of distorted communist ideas and wild, far-right beliefs.
Pulling Scales is based on the idea of change and transformation. It reflects on the process of awakening, both individually and collectively. It is a dance performance by Henry Rodríguez in collaboration with Elle. aka Lea Katrin (costume design) and L’DELTA aka Henry Rodríguez (music production) and is part of a series of works entitled Physical Rootlessness.
“Remove the rigid plate, the shell, the camouflage. I like to see what lies beyond endurance. Long and dense is the walk towards the core. Pull off your scales to see yourself. To feel yourself. I want to taste the inner walls of your steel body.”
CREDITS
Choreography & Performance - Henry Rodríguez
Costumes - Henry Rodríguez & Lea Katrin ( Elle. )
Videography / Photography - Jos Mauro Witteveen Villagómez & Martin van Drunen
Music - Leaving the Matrix mix and production by L’DELTA
featuring Kelly Lee Owens, Erik Truffaz & Murcof
Pre-premiered at Intimate Portraits and presented by Stichting Kunsten Dialoog, 2024
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Debut at Amsterdam Fringe Festival, 2025
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
‘ The jury called this performance a brave, magical solo. With a remarkable stage presence and unforgettable images, this dancer creates a surreal world on stage.
He invites the audience into a dark process of shedding and rebirth. The jury celebrates this poetic dance performance, that demonstrates the suffocating power of propaganda and the desire to claim autonomy.
(Jury’s review at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2025)
