It is vital because you exist! The countless stories and interests you have give us a glimpse of possibilities and what utopia could be. I cannot take your pain away. I cannot even take my own pain away. But know that you are not alone, darling. You carry the wisdom of our disabled ancestors. The time capsule of what dance will be. I do not have all the answers. But I do know that we must continue to create at whatever pace our bodies allow us. It’s okay to slow down for a second or 2. It’s valid and it will always be. It’s okay to rest. That is our power. It’s okay to let go for a while. But please come back with your beautiful disabled self.
And if it isn’t I am here fighting for us. For our liberation. One moment at a time.
We have each other.
Gazing upon the night sky filled with ever glistening stars our ancestors are smiling at us because we are their wildest dream. With so much love, Your Chicana Disabled dance friend, Vanessa Cruz
VANESSA HERNÁNDEZ CRUZ (she, her, hers) is an interdependent Chi- cana disabled dance artist & Disability Justice activist. She is from the unceded lands of the Tongva & Kizh lands colonially known as Los Angeles, California. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Science. Through her dance films, written work and choreographic work, Vanessa presents the audience with thought-provoking pieces that ignite the imagi- nation and explores disability aesthetics in contemporary forms and exper- imentation. She is shifting the dance field away from the inspirational-porn perspective of disability and moving it into a humanistic perspective.
Even though we are far apart we are still tethered to each other.
Most importantly, create for yourself. You no longer need to prove to the dance world that we can dance.
WAYS TO CONNECT & SUPPORT: IG: https://www.instagram.com/galaxiesdance/ Website: https://www.galaxiesdance.info Email: galaxiesdance@gmail.com Support: https://venmo.com/u/galaxiesdance
We are the future of dance.
It’s going to be okay.
64
in dance SUMMER 2022 64
SUMMER 2022 in dance 65
In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
unify strengthen amplify unify strengthen amplify
44 Gough Street, Suite 201 San Francisco, CA 94103 www.dancersgroup.org
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker