EVA YAA ASANTEWAA GRANT 2019 FINALIST

xianix barrera

Xianix Barrera Flamenco, founded in 2012, produces flamenco performances that highlight bold and tenacious female artists and their unapologetically robust femininity. Continuously pushing boundaries, while remaining true to the flamenco tradition; female empowerment, queer themes, sexual identity and social justice color the company’s choreographic work. XBF's most recent production, "Mujeres", showcased a rare all-female cast that featured revered female and queer guitarist Antonia Jiménez, one of five professional female guitarists in the world. In fall 2019, the company will embark on its first national tour with performances in New York, Portland and Phoenix for their annual flamenco festival "Lluvia Flamenca".

Proposal for the work

With this project, I intend to confront body dysmorphia, and further understand this behavior through an exploration of the oppressive class and socio-economic structures of flamenco. My first three choreographic works ("Corriente" 2017, "Mujeres" 2018, and "Latido" 2019) functioned as springboards for investigations into homosexual/queer intimacy, sexuality and sexual identity as an adult. Taking these ideas one step further, the central focus of this work will be on confronting repressed feelings and emotions related to my self-image and the repercussions of these changes and discoveries as an adult woman - therefore uncovering a new self, that has always been there. –Xianix Barrera