Join us for “Día de Muertos”: An interdisciplinary embodiment free workshop, a unique celebration of Mexican culture and a heartfelt tribute to our departed loved ones. Guided by the talented facilitators Carla Alcántara and Marco Esccer, this event invites you to engage in the art of crafting as we create an Altar de Muertos, a powerful symbol of remembrance and connection.

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 2:00 – 4:15 pm
Location: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver.

Free Event

Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/interdisciplinary-embodiment-workshop-with-carla-alcantara-marco-esccer-tickets-1050067860237?aff=oddtdtcreator

Crafting isn’t just about artistic expression; it’s a profound way to ground our emotions in the face of such a sensitive topic.

Through a dynamic interdisciplinary approach, we’ll delve into movement and dance prompts, set to the backdrop of live music by RCHRDY. Together, we’ll weave a collective “ofrenda” (shrine) using provided crafts and materials, honouring the traditions that bind us.

This event not only offers a safe space for the Latin community to rediscover their roots and customs, it extends a warm invitation to the broader public. Come experience the profound beauty of celebrating the cycles of life and death in this cherished tradition.

Come in comfortable clothes and bring photos or other objects to be added to the altar. Note that activities and reflections planned for this workshop are oriented for ages 16+. No previous dance or understanding of Day of Death is required; everyone is welcome!

About the facilitators:

Marco Esccer Marco Esccer (he/him) is a versatile queer Mexican dance artist, writer, and Dance Movement Therapist with a unique blend of technical and therapeutic expertise. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ballet from Mexico City’s National Ballet and Contemporary School and has earned certifications in Research, Experimentation, Contemporary Art Production, Dance Movement Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing training.

Marco’s artistic work spans various forms of performance and healing practices. His recent projects include performances with notable companies such as Co.Erasga, The Dance Centre’s 12 Minutes Max, Coastal City Ballet, Vines Festival and Dance West Networks’, where he explored diverse narratives through movement. In addition to his work as a dance artist, Marco is also an emerging playwright, and has collaborated with Momentum 180’s Parallel Project, among others.

Currently, Marco works as a freelance artist and embodiment facilitator, creating spaces that foster emotional connection and creativity through movement. He’s preparing an interdisciplinary performance among 6 collaborators to be premiered at STAND Festival on November 3. He also serves as the Communications & Programs Coordinator at New Works and holds the role of Artist in Residence at the Roundhouse for 2023-25.

Carla Alcántara is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist, emerging choreographer, photographer, videographer, and educator, gratefully living and working as a guest of the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples or so-called Vancouver since 2021.

She is the founder and director of TEMPO Dance & Visual Art, and works collaboratively with different artists on projects that feel meaningful and potentially impact other people’s lives. Carla works professionally as a freelance photographer and videographer, documenting performing arts, events, and creative ideas. As a dancer and choreographer, she has worked with companies and at festivals in Mexico, the USA, Canada, and Malaysia. In her short time in Canada, she has performed at festivals like All Over the Map, 12 Minutes Max, NextFest in Edmonton, Pop-Up Dances, Vines, IndieFest, and worked with choreographers like Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Alina Sotskova, Jennifer Aoki, and Rachel Maddock. Additionally, Carla has been a guest choreographer for the Youth In Motion Dance Company since 2023 and teaches numerous dance classes at The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

RCHRDY (pronounced ‘richardy’) is a emerging multidisciplinary artist interested in digging into the ‘spaces in between’.

They had the (mis)fortune of not having a traditional artistic education. This has allowed them to create their own connections between Life and art making. Starting their career in performing Arts, they’ve explored all kinds of creative endeavors such as installation making, music, collage, etc. Born in Mexico currently based in the (stolen) territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver, Canada).

In partnership with TEMPO Dance & Visual Art and Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre

With the support of Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver