Second edition of Alicia Soto's Hojarasca project for non-urban areas of Castilla y León

Following the positive reception of the first edition in June 2023, this year the project will take place from 1 to 26 September in the Valladolid towns of Serrada, Nava del Ray and La Seca. A series of activities are carried out there around the concepts of nature, territory and traditions using the language of contemporary dance, movement arts, dance theatre, urban dance and technology.

We propose 3 towns and their territory as a point of inspiration, an incubator of creative ideas to carry out an artistic residency made up of several activities, using as a concept our 3 key words of this second edition: Land, Roots and Harvest.

The Alicia Soto-Hojarasca company has relied on different professionals for this project:

Artistic direction and project coordination: Alice Soto
Production: Carmen Fernandez
Technical Direction: Pablo Rodriguez Seoane
Teaching staff educational activities: Adrian Ros and Alicia Soto
Dancers-creators: Adrian Ros, Sara Canet, Selam Zapater, Lorenza di Calogero, Encarni Sanchez, Deivid Barrera and Oriol Roca.

Master class guests:
Paloma Calderon, choreographic movement.
Elisa Sanz, scenery and costumes.
Julio Martin da Fonseca, dramaturgy.

PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS

_ Artistic creation residency in Serrada.

From 1st to 26th September. We are well aware that this inspiration is only possible if you really live in the place, in the territory, for a significant period that allows you to get to know the landscape, the idiosyncrasies of the inhabitants, their traditions and customs. This stay will also allow us to develop educational projects for the youngest.

Showing once again how nature through these landscapes and their populations are a strong point of creative inspiration to generate a work of art, and in this case a choreographic work, which we will call Choreographic Clusters. An incubator of ideas to build Choreographic Clusters.

_ Reflection laboratories with the public.

By becoming more involved with the towns and their inhabitants, with the desire to go beyond the creative process and ensure that the finished work does not remain a mere exhibition. We propose that the inhabitants of these towns actively participate in the creative process through dialogue and a search for ideas through the population with the community of creators and their work in progress, which we call Creative Reflection Laboratories.
The goal is to understand together how the creative process works, how to establish that connection with the group, understand what happens by ceasing to be a passive spectator and actively taking part in the creative process.

September 12 and 13. Sports center. Serrada. 18:30h.

September 19th. Serrada Theatre. 6:30 p.m.

_ Show: Dance Tasting (after the performance there will be a meeting with the public).

Through these laboratories and this communication with the community we reached the open public exhibition of the created works, Coreographic Clusters, finished.
These dance tastings consist of presenting the choreographic clusters created by these performers-creators during their artistic residency.

An initial presentation will be made to the public to explain what works they will see and where they come from. At the end, a dialogue will be entered into with the public about the choreographic clusters presented.

September 14th. On the Track. La Seca. 7:30 p.m.

September 20th. Sports Centre Square. Closed. 7:30 p.m.

September 21st. House of Culture. Nava del Rey. 8pm.

_ Danzarte: Workshops for children in Serrada.

The workshop was created with the aim of bringing dance closer to children, whether as future spectators or dance students, with an emphasis on the pedagogical aspect. The combination of dance and music helps them in their intellectual and physical growth, enhancing psychomotor skills, joy, a sense of community and memory.

In dance you We work three concepts important for a child's intellectual and personal development:

He rhythm, important in learning to read and write.

He motion, important for enhancing disinhibition.

The imagination, important to create a life project and live with enthusiasm.

WHAT IS A STEP FORWARD?

It is a project of cultural activities and actions based on the language of dance, an art with a universal language that erases the boundaries of communication and connects with emotional intelligence. Since there are no words, there are no barriers, which allows the public to imagine and feel. In addition, its practice allows us to approach and express different aspects of life and, in recent decades, its therapeutic nature has been demonstrated, helping personal growth and keeping communities together.

It is an initiative conceived by the creator, director and choreographer Alicia Soto and developed through her company.

This project is designed to ensure continuity, consolidate cultural activity, create collaborative synergies with towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and, most importantly, have a real impact on the town's inhabitants.

In his first edition More than 30 activities were carried out in 12 locations in Valladolid.