Chile in New Orleans: Residency With Ignacio Diaz and Diego Alvarez
Many of our favorite BODYART experiences involve our relationships with artists nationally and internationally. As we continue to navigate moving together throughout the pandemic, BODYART is thrilled to have maintained these relationships and transformed how we collaborate. Artistic Director Leslie Scott welcomed Chilean artists Igancio (Nacho) Diaz and Diego Alvarez to New Orleans for a 2-week creative film residency in September, after having met in 2019 on tour. Their time at Tulane was funded by The School of Liberal Arts Center for Scholars.
“This was an opportunity to do a deep dive around cultural connections through international dance for camera work,” Leslie shared. Nacho and Diego shared their many backgrounds – including journalism, photography, and movement – with the Tulane University campus, from their home in Chile. Both artists have worked with different dance groups and artist initiatives in the Valdivia community, and they hope to continue sourcing more centralized funding in Santiago, as well as in the States with BODYART projects.
Dance for camera work brought together students, faculty, and Nacho and Diego through more than just movement – mutual trust and meaningful friendships had been established throughout the process.
“We are friends with Leslie!” Nacho said. “We work with her and with the students, but we are also friends.” This friendship continues to cultivate BODYART’s plans with Nacho and Diego, and it has built the framework through which they taught classes and lectures to Tulane students. Diego shared “Coroemanía” classes, a movement-based practice that also inspires people in thought. Different ages, levels, and experiences were welcome to join these classes, and connections had formed on a foundation of wellness, pleasure, and ultimately, reliance. Just as BODYART developed a cross-cultural, creative bond with Nacho and Diego through the years, Tulane students across multiple disciplines formed connections in only a few classes.
“We all trust each other,” Nacho continued. “To share in the pleasure of movement is to trust.”
One student’s reflection of “Coreomanía:”
The more we explored our own movement, the more we were able to build a collective dynamic. I really felt that we had to trust ourselves to express our dance but also to rely on the group.
What’s next?
The finished film will be submitted to local festivals. Nacho and Diego hope to transfer their experiences in New Orleans back to Chile. “How can we mix New Orleans with our university there [Chile]?” they asked.
With even more plans for cross-cultural collaborations with Chile over the coming years, look out for more information very soon. BODYART looks forward to continuing to connect more deeply with New Orleans through multiple cultural lenses and is preparing to develop an even more creative collaboration back in Chile!
