photo by Ervin Arana. FUTURO 2024 participants. This experience is a soul-fill every year!
The lesson I continue to learn through my work with CONTRA-TIEMPO is about consistency and the power of love. Even in moments that feel hard, or when the world around us feels in deep misalignment to the world we are collectively imagining and fighting for - continuing to show up, and show up with love IS the work! Someone recently called us "first responders" and I love this idea that we as artists are the ones on the front lines, holding and demanding our capacity to be in action, act with love and imagine and stand for a future of more love and justice!
In the cypher! Photo by Ervin Arana
Before the pandemic my kids were often in space with CONTRA-TIEMPO, I would bring them to rehearsals, to community events and classes - my oldest spent his first 5 years touring on the road with the company while I was still dancing on stage - my youngest sun didn't get as much CT time because he was still a toddler when the pandemic hit. My youngest just came home from touring to Arizona with the company - and I have found him dancing and getting down during moments when he thinks no one is watching... he doesn't even need the music bc its inside of him - he's hearing the beat and accessing that groove - inspired by being in person with a group of loving and self expressed adults for several days has stuck with him... his body remembers. I am grateful for our CONTRA-TIEMPO familia and how they show up in the lives of my children.
Teaching my amazing UCSD students. Photo by Erik Jepsen.
Witnessing the way my students at UCSD transformed through the experience of working with CONTRA-TIEMPO, and their ideas of what is possible so profoundly expanded through participating in joyUS justUS reminded me of the power of our work and particularly this work. joyUS justUS is a piece that continues to be in conversation with the work, as it evolves, moves, falls apart, this work is a warm and demanding embrace - reminding us of the power of joy, community and what it takes to show up with our fullest selves as we stand for justice - a justice that isn't punitive but is loving and about growth and deepening of our humanity. I love this work and am so grateful for it!
sprouting from semillas,
Ana María