Anima

The women’s ritual theater collective known as Anima, Theater of the Feminine Underground, returns to Center Stage Theatre on October 9-10 with a brand-new set of performance pieces drawn from the participants’ real-life stories, dreams, yearnings, and most meaningful moments. The artists dive deep into not only their creative process, but also their psyches and souls. What emerges is an expression of the inner world of the feminine spirit.

Created by Lisa Citore, a longtime Santa Barbara Tantra and Goddess practitioner multi-hyphenate who lists divine feminine initiator, intimacy whisperer, creative sparker, ceremonialist, guide, playwright and author among her attributes, Anima was born of the belief that creativity can be a path to healing through shaping personal experience into powerful performance pieces. Every aspect of creating and shepherding the pieces from concept to stage becomes a vehicle for self-growth as well as community connection. 

“Not only are we sharing our art with each other, but we are showing up for each other’s emotional bodies,” explained Teagan Rose, Anima co-presenter and director. “It’s really important to us that we welcome the whole person into the space, artist and soul. That’s where the depth of the art comes from. They’re also showing up with all of their human (issues), and we’re getting to experience mirrors for ourselves and all of the complex human experiences that come up in the process. We also get to grow because there’s less hiding.”

The October Anima shows feature an almost exclusively veteran lineup, including pieces by Citore with Elaine Gale, Aurora Rose, Cybil Gilbertson, Melissa Lowenstein, Samantha Bonavia, KiaOra Fox, Chelsea Didier, and Rachel Petkus, with original works exploring themes of sensual awakenings, shame, healing from betrayal, group consciousness, freeing the pelvis, and liberating the voice, among others. The works span creative theatrical genres from poetry and spoken word, to song, dance, and even clowning. 

“There’s an added layer of vulnerability and bravery that really has to take place for the artist to bring these pieces on stage,” Rose said. “The process we’re all choosing to embark on is about transformation.” 

An ensemble of more than 20 will also be a part of Anima this time around, vastly more than in previous years. 

“That speaks to the magnetism of the show and how many people want to be involved,” Rose said. “These ritual pieces are growing in their ability to be able to hold more presence, hold more people, and share stories that have a broader range.” 

Also expanding for Anima since its founding in the mid-2010s is offering its Ritual Theatre lab as a standalone workshop, while also turning the Anima performances into their own avenue, although the nexus remains strong. The organization has also branched beyond its longtime performance space of Center Stage Theatre, just this year offering Biophilia: The Nature Within at the Art & Soul gallery, and making a special appearance at Pacifica Institute’s Goddess-Makers in the Age of Autocrats event. 

But the Theater of the Feminine Underground ritual theater events – which now take place over two nights via a recent expansion – remain the core of Anima, not least for the audience that attends these shows that are at least two months in the making. It’s a rare experience that goes beyond simply watching a performance. 

“You’re getting access to the souls of the artists, something that’s beautifully complex,” Rose said. “It’s how everybody that’s a part of this shows up.”

So while it’s fine to come to Anima just for the theatrical experience, arriving with vulnerability, or at least an openness, can pay dividends. 

“We show up and invite people into an experience,” Rose said. “It’s an opportunity to view what you’re seeing as a reflection on yourself. If you’re having a reaction to something, maybe that’s a pathway to feel into yourself more. Or if you’re deeply moved in an unexpected way, how is that also an opportunity to be able to look at and maybe understand a part of yourself that you maybe didn’t have access to before? 

“That’s a core thread of what makes Anima ritual theater.”  

Visit www.animaritualtheater.com or https://centerstagetheater.org