BRAVURA
BY JUAN FELIPE AMAYA GONZALEZProduction designer / Costume designer
BRAVURA refers to bravery, rage, a form of masculinity, as well as a virtuosic solo moment in music. In a fictional club setting, the performance installation juxtaposes early salsa mythology with the contemporary migration experience. It delves into the cultural depths of salsa as a representation of Latin American immigrant identity, tracing its radical roots to the marginalised Latinx communities in 1970s New York. Salsa offers a rich tapestry of narratives from the diaspora, intertwining stories of resistance, identity, and memory. It’s a
testament to the empowering power of dance, where every movement has its history and every step is a testament to a collective journey. The audience is invited to walk freely through a set created in collaboration with the artist Matti Schulz, in which two bodies move in syncopation through images echoing an imaginary extravaganza.
A production by juan felipe amaya gonzalez in co-production with Sophiensæle. Supported by the pilot project for accessibility formats “Avengers” as part of the NRW Mittelzenterförderung from Barnes Crossing – Free Space for DancePerformanceArt. The 33rd Tanztage Berlin are a production of Sophiensæle. Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the Capital Cultural Fund (HKF). With the kind support of Tanzfabrik Berlin e. V., Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte. Media partners: Berlin Art Link, Missy, Siegessäule and taz.
Concept, Direction: juan felipe amaya gonzalez (jfag)
Performance: juan felipe amaya gonzalez (jfag),
Luisa Fernanda Alfonso, Carlos Andrés Rico
Music Composition: Carlos Andrés Rico (aka DJ Arepabahn)
Set/Installation: Matti Schulz
Production design & Costume: Luisa Fernanda Rodríguez Jiménez (aka Mujer Cobra)
Mask Consultant: Sofia Loose Martínez De Castro
Light Design: Emilio Cordero Checa
Dramaturgical Support: Dandan Liu
Special Thanks: La Nena Magdalena, Nicolás Ramírez, Simone Gisela Weber, Maciej Sado, Deva Schubert, Jeroen Fabius, Catalina Insignares, DAS Graduate School Amsterdam, The International Salsa Museum, La Feria de Cali, J1 Studio