Women today

Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh

Women Today – Femmes d’aujourd’hui
A powerful and moving Iranian dance performance

From Iran, this contemporary choreographic creation gives voice to the silences that have been imposed for too long. Women Today tells the poignant story of a woman confronted with marital oppression: deprived of freedom, prevented from fully existing, she tries to preserve a glimmer of love in the midst of confinement.

On stage, her body becomes resistance. The dance intensely translates the unspeakable, blending Persian gestural heritage with contemporary language. Each movement reveals an inner struggle, a quest for emancipation, a silent dignity.

The company has created a committed work, where the intimate becomes political. The performance resonates strongly with the current struggles of women in Iran and elsewhere, and is touching in its accuracy and human depth.

Following the performance, a meeting in English with the artistic team will allow for discussion about the creative process, the Iranian context, and the power of art as a space of freedom.

Coming from Iran, Women Today is a vibrant dance ode to female resistance in the face of oppression, blending traditional gestures and contemporary language.

About the Company - Rira theater group

Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh is an Iranian choreographer, director, and costume designer. Committed to women's rights, she creates shows that blend dance, performance, and visual arts, exploring the tensions between tradition and freedom. Her work, presented in Iran and internationally, notably with *The Woman of Today* at the Adelaide Fringe, explores women's resistance to social oppression.

Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh - Chorégraphe

Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh is an Iranian choreographer, director, and costume designer committed to promoting women's rights through the performing arts. Her work explores the tensions between patriarchal traditions and contemporary aspirations for equality and freedom of expression. Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh has directed several theater productions in Iran and internationally. Her notable works include Cut Way, My World, and Linin's Beautiful Queen. She also served as a costume design consultant for the play Prince Ehtejab, presented at the Fadjr International Theatre Festival in Tehran. In 2025, she presented The Woman of Today at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia. This show highlights women's struggles in contemporary Iranian society and in other contexts where their rights are neglected. Through contemporary dance, performance, and film, her work explores societal transitions toward greater women's independence and the recognition of their individual rights. Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh is recognized for her ability to merge visual arts and performance to address complex social issues. Her work has been praised for its emotional depth and commitment to social justice.

Distribution

Choreographer: Samaneh Ahmadi Motlagh
Dancers: Milad Refaghati, Yasaman Mirzaei, Faranak JAvaheri, Ali Asghar Salasi
Assitant: Payam Larian

Production

Production Rira Theater Group
Co-production: Ciel Group