CONVERSATIONS: Hidden Stories
May 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm COT (GMT-5)
Aanmitaagzi Story Makers and Vanguardia Dance Projects are excited to present CONVERSATIONS: Hidden Stories as part of the Festival de Teatro Alternativo (Festa) taking place in Bogotá, Colombia from May 15 through May 23, 2026. Festa is a biennial festival of alternative theatre works that has been taking place in Bogotá since 1990. It is a platform for contemporary Colombian theatre that showcases multi-cultural works by regional and national groups alongside those by international companies.This year’s festival features over 85 performances across 25 venues including 80 theatre, dance, and performance art works.
CONVERSATIONS: Hidden Stories is a dialogue of bodies extended in various latitudes of the Americas. Starting from the investigation of “body and territory” by the Colombian-Canadian choreographer Olga Barrios, this work seeks a conversation between women through the Americas, seeking a South-North echo. Barrios’ research/creation explores the traces of Indigenous heritage that have been erased in her journey, as has happened with many people in various places in America and the planet. This work is based on the woman of many colours that she experiences in herself and with the many other voices in the world that seek connection with ideas of traces erased from history.
Production Credits
Director & Choreographer: Olga Barrios
Dancers & Text Creators: Norma Araiza, Olga Barrios, Penny Couchie, Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey, Lilia León
Guest Dancer: Maria Lucia Llano
Composer & Sound Designer: Edgardo Moreno
Projection Artist: Alejandra Higuera and Olga Barrios
Stage Manager: Kelsey Ruhl
Costumes: Jennifer Kelly
Lighting Design: Trevor Schwellnus
Locations of work development: Big Medicine Studio (Nipissing First Nation), Arcadia Artists Co-op & National Ballet of Canada (Toronto)
This work is presented with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
