MFA Candidate Rebekah Joann Guerra to Present at Cartographies of Movement
MFA Candidate Rebekah JoAnn Guerra has been selected to present work at the 2024 Dance Studies Association, Cartographies of Movement, July 23-27, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
By merging the unconventional prose of Frida Kahlo's diary entries, letters, and poetry, characterized by her decolonial writing practices, with the physical research embodied in Gaga methodologies, my thesis work seeks to forge a connection between mestiza consciousness, identity perceptions, and dance as a means of “unfiltered” expression. Through this collaboration of artistic mediums, I delve into the intricate interplay between written languages and the languages of the body. My interests lie in unearthing alternative expressions of suffering and hope within these art practices while weaving together the experiences of self-presence and self- presentation. My literary and physical influences converged in my thesis choreography “bolero de lxs Fridas.”
In my thesis research, I will employ a multifaceted approach that combines two key prongs that contribute to an exploration of identity and self-expression in contemporary dance and choreography. First, through the lens of autohistorias and mestiza consciousness, and drawing inspiration from Anzaldúa's and Kahlo's diaries, I will experiment with storytelling and diary formats to portray these intricate narratives and the diverse layers of self-perception. This literary structure, along with Carlos Fuentes' stream of consciousness writing, will provide a dynamic backdrop for my written work, creating a decolonial narrative that bridges the worlds of dance, consciousness and identity. Second, I will look at how Gaga technique practice and solo studies serve as a bridge between my written narratives and choreographic processes, allowing for a more profound understanding of how movement and consciousness intersect. By integrating these elements, my work will aim to delve into the choreographic processes of "bolero de lxs fridas" (my past project that premiered in September 2023) and "to be an image: an object of my imagination," (a self-reflexive solo that is never ending) linking the theoretical, the personal and practical aspects of my research.