I used to live in the mountains (the descent towards the sea)

I used to live in the mountains (the descent towards the sea).

In this piece, I serve as both choreographer and dancer for a solo inspired by Ecuador's diverse landscape. The work offers a naturalistic and feminine perspective, evoking my nostalgia for the Pacific Ocean. It emphasizes the profound connection between mountainous terrain and the sea, symbolized through the element of water. The dance integrates movements derived from various ecological zones: birds of the mountains, rainforest animals, and the vibrant energy of coastal women.

I collaborated with Hawa Turay, a Macalester student, for the lighting design. We recreated a sunrise scene from Cotopaxi Volcano, using bright colors that dimmed to signify a significant event. The lighting evolved to represent melting snow turning into rivers, flowing across the stage with blues and purples. In the Amazon Jungle section, we used green colors, transitioning to vivid lights symbolizing the river meeting the Pacific Ocean. The lights fade to black with the Ecuadorian flag's colors.

Matías Cevallos, an Ecuadorian Music Composer, created the original composition De la Montaña al Mar, incorporating Héctor Lavoe's Periódico de Ayer. We used folkloric wind instruments to evoke the Andean mountains, added rainforest sounds, and featured saxophones and trumpets. The salsa music in the finale symbolizes the coastal region.

For the costume, I worked with student Miles Lathan. Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy’s connection with nature, I chose bare and nude colors to represent water's transparency and femininity. I wore a nude leotard, a translucent top, and wide mesh pants, later adding a green skirt symbolizing femininity, the sun, and a flower.

My dance portrays Ecuador's cultural and natural diversity. It includes shapes representing Inca traditions and the influence of Catholicism, along with movements symbolizing oppression and revolution. The work is an homage to my spiritual connection with the Pacific Ocean and nature's cyclical journey, intertwining power and beauty.

This piece is an award-winning project at the Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women for advancing research and scholarship on women, gender, or issues relevant to diverse women’s concerns.