Notes on spiritual extractivism in the Flemish dance scene

Departing from the text 'On the European Tradition of Stealing' by Weichafe Moira Ivana Millán, denouncing spiritual extractivism done by a Flemish-based choreographer, Cecilia Lisa Eliceche presents a performative reading. She contextualises how the information about stolen dances from the Mapuche Nation, performed for an artsy Brussels audience, reached an actual Mapuche community, how they denounced this practice of epistemic pillage and how Flemish cultural institutions worked intensely to silence the appearance of this indigenous voice that came to interpellate multiculturalism and the apparent trend of decolonial art. Cecilia will share her perspectives on the importance of ancestral dances for the maintenance of cosmic and telluric balance as well as the struggle for earth justice. Mariciwew! 

• Since 2020, Fabián Barba, Cecilia Lisa Eliceche, Moya Michael, Sujata Goel, Jolie Reymond Ngemi and Carlos Maria Romero aka Atabey Mamasita have been coming together to write, work and converse as Dancing at the Crossroads (as we walk). They are a group of non-European, migrant dance professionals who have studied in, lived in or are based in Flanders. Their collective work seeks to unveil and confront colonialism and racism in the established international dance networks of western Europe. For the past two years, they have been supported by workspacebrussels as resident artists. After a period of slow and patient labour they will be sharing their process during the Open Studios. The five-day programme consists of text readings, performances and conversations.