CONVERSATIONS: Hidden Stories is a 60-minute performance collaboratively created by Vanguardia Dance Projects and Aanmitaagzi Story Makers. Rooted in dance, this inter-generational piece seeks to establish a conversation among women from different cultures across the Americas. It also raises key questions surrounding storytelling, the protocols of the performative space, the relationship between two-dimensional and three-dimensional bodies (camera dialogues versus live performance), and the soundscape that interacts with the territories of image, body, and technology.

At its core, the project amplifies the voices of diverse women in society and history. The artists involved in this project include dancers, musicians, visual artists, and technical designers from across turtle island and Latin America. Barrios’ research and creative processes examine the traces of Indigenous heritage that have been erased throughout her personal journey, a theme that resonates with many people across the Americas and beyond. The work reflects her exploration of the “woman of many colours” within herself, and seeks connection with the voices of other women who are similarly striving to reclaim erased histories.

Both organizations have played vital roles in bringing this work to life. Although the work was born out of Barrios’ artistic explorations of the relationship of bodies and territories, the other performers, who are artists from both companies, added their stories and ideas to the project. Aanmitaagzi hosted several creation intensives at Big Medicine Studio and developed installation components for the project to engage audiences before and after the show. Vanguardia focused on building presentation opportunities including the 2025 premiere in Kitchener and the 2026 festival in Colombia.