CRACKED, the evening-length dance/theatre concert by Toni Leago Valle, explores how women still obsess on “the perfect size” and “Pretty Woman” ideals. It is a painful but tender exploration of nakedness, self-image, sex and surrender.
Valle grew up in the post-60’s era where women were supposedly given the freedom to control and choose their bodies, lifestyle and sexual behavior. 50 years later, women are still bombarded with dictates on appropriate body image, behavior, and sexual etiquette through parents, community, media, and politics. Valle states, “I first presented CRACKED in 2006. I find that 10 years later, its still the same – I am frustrated that women are subtly conditioned from birth to value our bodies as commerce - what can I trade my body for - money, a better job, a home, social status, security, marriage? I am forced to compete against all other women with my image. I have never been satisfied while looking in the mirror and every female I have ever met has felt this way, regardless of age.”
