zahraa essa
Title: Come Dance With Us
Artist: Zahraa Essa
Materials: Mixed medium (fabric, fan blowers, steel, timber)
Year: 2025
Come Dance with us (2025) engages the invisible, presenting women, labour, and radical joy. Towering figures made from lightweight, semi-transparent fabric billow and dance, inviting audiences to engage with fragments of hidden histories embedded within their ethereal forms.
As the figures move gracefully, they invite viewers to join in the dance. The installation becomes a dialogue; Each interaction weaves personal and collective memories into the narrative, creating a sense of discovery and connection.
The warm glow of the figures surrounds participants and sparks feelings of joy. Light, sound, and movement come together to turn the space into a living memorial that honours resilience, memory, and the power of shared joy.
The contrast between the figures’ light appearance and the heavy histories they represent creates a poignant contrast, transforming remembrance into an act of radical joy. 'Come Dance with Us' is a living memorial that honours the beauty of shared histories.

