Concept, Choreography, Direction, and Performance: Irma Villafuerte and Nickeshia Garrick

Sound Design/Co-Composition: Brandon Valdivia

Vocal Direction/Co-Composition: David Ariza

Surrendered Spirits is an inter-multidisciplinary duet that excavates the introspective and shared retrospective reflection on experiences and memories of childhood fractures and joys. Our objective is to reclaim self in relationship to the parallel desires of moving through collective healing, incorporating embodied cultural memory into movement, music and voice through the political lens of Queer Femme, Black and Brown bodies. This duet is inspired by the impact of familial displacement and our upbringing as children of racialized, marginalized and immigrant families. As Afro-Caribbean and Central American womxn of queer identity and upbringing, we are faced with the opportunity to bloom as co-creators by undertaking a project that delves into the truths and layers of fractured childhood stories that have influenced our disconnection and perception of the world and family. This contemporary dance-theatre experience aims to create a vortex of physical and emotional energy between expressive racialized bodies, live music, and illustrative atmosphere, guiding the performers and audience through collective healing from a place of breath, mutual care and reclaiming of self.

Acknowledgements:

CinnaMoon Collective would like to thank TOES FOR DANCE for the opportunity to share our work of land, memory and ancestral stories. Your platform allows for racialized voices to be heard, seen and accepted. We also acknowledge the voices of those around the world who are currently being displaced and silenced. This work is in solidarity with their voices- you are not lost, you will not go unheard, you will be remembered.

Additional Supporters: dance Immersion and Kaeja d’Dance

Click here to learn more about the artists!