Queer Latinx Experience at Center of New Dance Piece

A new dance show that centers queer Latinx lives is taking center stage at REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles. Hypanthium, named after the part of the rose that produces nectar, grew from the indigenous Aztec and Mexican roots of creator Sebastian Hernandez.

Combining the practice of danza Azteca with modern dance techniques and flashes of vogue, Hernandez (who uses they/them pronouns) has created an experimental dance theater work with something to say. This collage of actions and movement calls to mind the painful clashes of personal and cultural identity, as well as conflicts at the U.S.-Mexico border, all without saying a word.

The dynamic movement of intertwined brown and black bodies exposes the tension of expressing oneself while queer and femme amid pressures to assimilate.

Through the use of unusual props, fierce wardrobe, and fearless sensuality, Hernandez and collaborating dancers Angel Acuna and Autumn Randolph explore notions of sisterhood, memories of ancestral trauma, and methods of survival. Their movement heralds new ways of thriving in brown queer bodies.

Hypanthium runs from Thursday through Saturday at REDCAT. Tickets are available online. Watch a trailer for the show below.