From October 14th to 16th, 2022 – Festival Internacional Teatro en tu barrio

URBAN BODIES PROJECT – MEXICO CITY

Yolanda Gutiérrez has explored three fundamental aspects in different European cities through choreographic works, the concept of decoloniality: the personal, the colonial past at architecture and at the open space. Starting from the idea that these three concepts are a living archive to generate the content of her work, she will explore with Mexican dancers the public space in Mexico City.

These narratives have found their way despite the collective imagination that frames the versions of the conquerors and clouds the versions of the conquered.

This project opens up a critical and performative space for the voice and the body to express itself, challenging a colonization that continues today from political to economic to cultural influences.

Decolonize your mind! Decolonize your body! Decolonize your city!

„Urban Bodies Project- CDMX is an interactive and provocative show bursting with energy. It begins with an audio-tour, through the headphones we are provided between the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Templo Mayor t; its creator shares part of her personal history in an intimate confession, while two men and a dancer take possession for a few moments of: Monuments, streets and buildings of the old city of palaces; they transform them into the ideal scenography to give us their own revelations. Already in Calle Tacuba (the oldest street in Latin America), the equestrian statue of Carlos IV, which in a way marked the end of the viceregal era, gave us a glimpse of the tragic end of Emperor Moctezuma. The hustle and bustle of the city was no obstacle to having 50 people dancing in the street, thanks to the complicity of super good music of the Mexican group Altoparlante. When we reached Donceles street, even Esperanza Iris jumped out of her legend to dance with us, like in the golden years of theatre. In Calle Filomeno Mata, the statue of Tlatoani Nezahualcóyotl made us reflect on the lack of statues of heroines of the homeland (the historical invisibility of women). The main temple was transformed into a sensory stage to end with an interesting reflection on the „mole“ (Mexican dish) of races that we Mexicans are and the „syncretism“ that resides within us despite the cracks. Four artists on stage. Excellent musicians, a playwright, 50 audience members with headphones and a well-organised team showed us how diverse the possibilities are to express ourselves artistically, around the theme of decolonization.“
Silvia Elena Gutiérrez Rojas, writer and author.

[Concept/Choreography] Yolanda Gutiérrez

[With and by] Jorge Guillén, Aime Irasema Sánchez und Zurisadai González Fuentes
[Management Mexico-City] Lucia Lilen Heffner
[Assistance] Elizabeth Palomar
[Audio/Music] ALTOPARLANTE
[Dramaturgy & Voice] Antonio Salinas
[Audioguidevoices] Yolanda Gutiérrez and Antonio Salinas
[Costume] Andrea Arrieta
[Foto/Video] Akaash Mora Sahota

Funded by the Behörde für Kultur und Medien and by the Dachverband für darstellende Künste – Diffussionsförderung.

With the kind support of Sistema Nacional de Danza and Sistema de Teatros de la Ciudad de México.