Broken Tailbone by Carmen Aguirre (Nightswimming)
A salsa dance lesson with monologue about politics and sex.
Attended at Factory Theatre in October 2019 in Toronto, ON
Attended at Factory Theatre in October 2019 in Toronto, ON
Written by: Carmen Aguirre
Performed by: Carmen Aguirre and DJ Don Pedro Chamale
Directed by: Brian Quirt
Produced by: Brittany Ryan with support from Chrstine Quintana
Stage Managed by: Maria Zarillo
Designed by: Michelle Ramsay
Created and developed by: Nightswimming with assistance from Aluna Theatre, Toronto and Playwrights Theatre Centre, Vancouver
Supported by: 2016 Banff Playwrights Lab - a partnership between the Banff Centre and the Canada Council for the Arts
In Broken Tailbone, celebrated writer and performer Carmen Aguirre leads a public Latin American dance lesson, woven with hilarious stories of her experiences in the hidden world of dance halls in Canada. DJ Don Pedro creates an irresistible musical environment to get even the most reluctant dancer up on their feet! Daring, sexy, and, above all, fun.
Carmen’s performance consists of an extended salsa dance lesson that flows into her remarkable stories of intimacy, politics, culture and the forgotten origins of the salsa. Everyone in the audience dances as the evening swiftly transforms into one of the dance halls Carmen vividly describes, bringing us deeply into one of Canada’s most unique milieus… the Latinx dance halls that many people have never heard of.
Performed by: Carmen Aguirre and DJ Don Pedro Chamale
Directed by: Brian Quirt
Produced by: Brittany Ryan with support from Chrstine Quintana
Stage Managed by: Maria Zarillo
Designed by: Michelle Ramsay
Created and developed by: Nightswimming with assistance from Aluna Theatre, Toronto and Playwrights Theatre Centre, Vancouver
Supported by: 2016 Banff Playwrights Lab - a partnership between the Banff Centre and the Canada Council for the Arts
In Broken Tailbone, celebrated writer and performer Carmen Aguirre leads a public Latin American dance lesson, woven with hilarious stories of her experiences in the hidden world of dance halls in Canada. DJ Don Pedro creates an irresistible musical environment to get even the most reluctant dancer up on their feet! Daring, sexy, and, above all, fun.
Carmen’s performance consists of an extended salsa dance lesson that flows into her remarkable stories of intimacy, politics, culture and the forgotten origins of the salsa. Everyone in the audience dances as the evening swiftly transforms into one of the dance halls Carmen vividly describes, bringing us deeply into one of Canada’s most unique milieus… the Latinx dance halls that many people have never heard of.
Awards & Press
"There’s something profound about the synergy between personal physicality and the political struggles that Aguirre’s structured improv investigates” - NOW Toronto
"part salsa lesson, part political and personal memoir - and all sweaty fun.” - The Globe and Mail
“This interactive performance slash dance lesson took Latinx dancing to a whole new level… Not to be missed” - The Vancouver Arts Review
"part salsa lesson, part political and personal memoir - and all sweaty fun.” - The Globe and Mail
“This interactive performance slash dance lesson took Latinx dancing to a whole new level… Not to be missed” - The Vancouver Arts Review
Presentations
- Boca del Lupo’s presentation series: Vancouver, BC 11-14 March 2020
- Factory Theatre: Toronto, ON October 2-13 2019
- The Cultch: Vancouver, BC 13-24 February 2018
- Workshop West / Chinook Series: Edmonton, AB 8-9 February 2018
- Encuentro de las Americas / Latin Theatre Company: LA, California 2-19 November 2017
- Uno Festival: Victoria, BC 26-27 May 2017
