Dear Performática, I loved hearing your generous, magnanimous words of why you do what you do regarding Performática. Our students got so much out of the experience of going to Performática and I thank you for that gift that ripples way out, and hopefully settles in the hearts of young women who will reach out fearlessly and respectfully to others who don’t look and sound like them. Thank you.

The Emma Willard (High School for girls) Dance Company enjoyed every aspect of Performática. They were honored to perform on a program with well-known artists in a theater that made them breathless. They interfaced with schools and groups outside the festival. At the State Children’s Hospital in Puebla, the dancers were touched by audience members, many of whom were orphaned because families could not afford to care for them, and by the elderly women who stood cheerleader-style chanting, “a la Bim Bom Bam” at the end of the showing. These high school girls felt safe in the UDLA environment: they negotiated getting food, came to know the campus, socialized with the locals and other Performática guests, and walked (or directed taxis) to planned destinations with all of the costumes and properties. All were thankful for the perfect accommodations, complete with kitchenette and filtered water. The school couldn’t have asked for a more ideal situation for their tour to Cholula and Puebla.

With great admiration, Sue

If curious, please see our website for more info and photos of our time in Puebla: 

http://www.emmawillard.org/arts/tourfantastico.php

Well, it has been a remarkable ride this year.  We started the call on September 11 and closed it on Nov. 2nd. During the first 40 some days the entries were limited and sparse.  So much so that we anticipated a very small and intimate gathering this April. Which would have been quite interesting.  Then “deadlinitis” hit and we received a huge number of proposals in less than 60 hours. Our numbers tripled from last year’s event. It has been quite interesting going through each one and determining how to select.

In the interest of transparency, we have included the criteria with which selections were made:

1) Technical: that they are realizable within Performática’s context.

2) Time consideration: that their time is adequate within the time suggested by Performática or that they have time adaptability.

3) Clarity of Proposal: that the proposal for performance, workshop or paper is comprehensible, and detailed enough for its realization.

4) Diversity: that it contributes to the Forum’s diversity.

5) Mission’s Empathy: that it resonates with the mission of Performática.

The selection committee was comprised of:  Co-directors Ray Eliot Schwartz and Mayra Morales, along with Doménica Lopez: Choreographer, Christina Zap Mcconnell: Visual and Performance Artist, Choreographer, and Teacher, and Maria Emilia Ismael Simental: Musicologist and coordinator of the Panels Committee. 

We thank everyone who applied and look forward to seeing many of you here in April.

Bueno, ha sido un notable recorrido este año.  Comenzamos la convocatoria el 11 de Septiembre y la cerramos el 2 de Noviembre. Durante los primeros  40 y tantos días, las entradas eran limitadas y escasas. Tanto fue esto que anticipamos una reunión muy pequeña e íntima en Abril. Lo cual hubiera sido bastante interesante. Después la ”deadlinitis” (término refiriéndose a cuando los artistas de dan cuenta al último minuto que ya se cerrará la convocatoria y surgen un número inesperado y muy grande de aplicaciones en las últimas horas.) entró, y recibimos una enorme cantidad de propuestas en menos de 60 horas. Nuestros números se triplicaron, a los del evento año pasado. Ha sido bastante interesante, ir a través de cada una de las propuestas, y determinar como seleccionarlas.

Por razones de transparencia, se incluye el criterio en el que se han basado las selecciones:

1) Viabilidad técnica: que sean realizables dentro del marco de Performática.

2) Consideración de Tiempo: que sean adecuados a los límites de tiempo establecidos por Performática o que tengan adaptabilidad temporal.

3) Claridad de la Propuesta: que su propuesta a realizar tanto en performance, como taller, como ponencia sea comprensible para su realización.

4) Diversidad: que contribuya a la diversidad del Foro.

5) Misión Empática: que tenga resonancia con la misión de Performática.

El comité de selección estuvo conformado por: los Co-directores Ray Eliot Schwartz y Mayra Morales, junto con Doménica López: Coreógrafa; Christina “Zap” McConnell: Artista Visual y Performativa, Coreógrafa y Maestra; y Maria Emilia Ismael Simental: Musicóloga y coordinadora del Comité de Paneles

Agradecemos a todos los que aplicaron, y esperamos ver a muchos de ustedes aquí en Abril.