Artist Statement
My choreographic practice thrives in multiplicity, where the deeply personal intersects with lesser-known narratives, celebrations of Latinx icons, and explorations of identity, culture, and historiography. As a lifelong choreographer and dance educator, I have developed a movement aesthetic rooted in contemporary dance, shaped by ballet and jazz training, and enriched by my experiences as a Chicana, Mexican American, and Tejana.
Identity remains a central focus of my research. I continue to explore my own nepantla, the in-between space Gloria Anzaldúa describes as one of transformation, contradiction, and creative becoming. Through this lens, my choreography becomes both inquiry and reflection: an embodied search for connection across borders, (her)storxs, and perspectives.
I view choreography as a relational practice, one that begins and ends with people. I want dancers and co-collaborators to feel seen, valued, and essential to the work unfolding, not merely interpreters of my vision, but co-authors in a shared act of creation. My process is grounded in care and respect, guided by Chicana/Latina Feminist methodologies that honor embodied knowledge and collective storytelling. I draw upon plática (loosely translated as an informal, conversational research method), testimonio (embodied narrative), and curanderismo (healing practice) to cultivate spaces of trust, openness, and creative exchange.
I am inspired by diverse influences from pop culture to history, from text to technology, and continually explore how tools such as projection can expand the stage into immersive, multidimensional worlds.
Ultimately, my goal is emotional resonance. I want audiences to feel something, to unplug from the rhythm of everyday life, to exhale, to enter a world where they might laugh, cry, recognize themselves, or simply be present. Whether through shared identities or pure aesthetic joy, I strive to create work that moves both body and heart. Through dance, I hope we reconnect — with ourselves, with one another, and with the larger cultural stories we carry.
