On April 29, 2023 at 5PM and 8:30PM, Primera Generación Dance Collective (PGDC) and Show Box LA will present their biannual (de) Color-Es 2023 at NAVEL Space in Los Angeles. (de) Color-Es is an event that unites artists of color to give voice to the complex and multimedia portrayals of minoritarian art and artmaking. This year’s unique evening of performances will feature works by eight inspiring artists from Los Angeles, Riverside, and Mexico City whose work will appear on both the 5 and 8:30 pm shows. The concerts are open to the public and admission is free. Donations are encouraged to help PGDC to continue developing equitable programming.
Made possible by generous funding from the California Arts Council Cycle Grant A and collaborative work by PGDC dance artists Alfonso Cervera, Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, Patricia “Patty” Huerta, and Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, (de) Color-Es offers workshops to dancemakers which will culminate in performances such as the one listed above.
Magnolia Yang Sao Yia (courtesy of PGDC)
Based in Los Angeles and Riverside, PGDC has presented works throughout the Los Angeles area and beyond. In 2022, the collective’s first evening-length work, Nepantla, was presented on the annual Dance at the Odyssey festival. The four artists and their collaborative work Nepantla was featured in a Los Angeles Times article titled “How Primera Generación Dance Collective brought ‘Nepantla’ from screen to stage” by staff writer Steven Vargas.
Kati Hernandez – Photo by Liza Guizarra
Show Box LA was originally created by dancemaker/interdisciplinary artist Meg Wolfe for the purpose to foster and highlight artists in the LA region. Now led by members of PGDC, Show Box LA directs its resources toward guiding and supporting QTBIOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artmakers at different stages of their career.
Aisha Bardge and Stephen Tanner (courtesy of PGDC)
Artists featured on the April 29th program include: DJ TiffStarr born in Southern California, began her career Deejaying in New York City and is rapidly gaining recognition; Kati Hernandez is a Cuban Choreographer, dancer, educator, and creator of Orisha Dance Therapy; Frine Garrey is a Mexico City-based choreographer, dancer and instructor who has collaborated with dance artist Jorge Santana; Marina Magalhães is a nationally recognized, Los Angeles-based dance-maker from Brazil who has performed with Contra-Tiempo, Viver Brasil, and others; dance artist Stephen Tanner will be performing a duet with dancer/choreographer Aisha Bardge; and performer/dancemaker Magnolia Yang Sao Yia.
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- Marina Magalhães (courtesy of PGDC)
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- Jorge Santana and Frine Garrey (Courtesy of PGDC)
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- DJ TiffStarr (courtesy of PGDC)
“We highlight, question, and consider what it means to be an artist of color and how that shows up in the world, how we contend with it, and how we craft in, beyond, though, and with it. In doing so, (de) Color-Es works to build networks of connectivity between different forms of artmakers, art genres, artistry, and art localities, centering this coalition as an evening of radical performance.” PGDC press release.
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WHAT: (de) Color-Es 2023 featuring works by DJ TiffStarr, Kati Hernandez, Frine Garrey y Jorge Santana, Marina Magalhães, Stephen Tanner & Aisha Bardge, and Magnolia Yang Sao Yia.
WHEN: April 29, 2023 at 5PM and 8:30PM (PDT)
WHERE: NAVEL Space, 1611 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
TICKETS: Free, with donations encouraged.
In addition to this year’s evening of performances, PGDC has organized FREE workshops led by our invited artists that are open to the public! Click HERE to check out class descriptions, offerings, schedule, and to RSVP your spot!
For more information about Primera Generación Dance Collective’s (de) Color-Es performances and free workshops follow their journey at @primerageneraciondance on Instagram or visit their website.
For more information about Show Box LA, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Primera Generación Dance Collective – (L-R) Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, Patricia “Patty” Huerta, Alfonso Cervera, and Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier – Photo by Bobby Gordon
