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Dancer and choreographer José Rivera Moya
started dancing at penitentiary centers in Mexico City when Raúl Flores Canelo was directing the Independent Ballet . It was the 1980s and the experience would become engraved in the memory of its creators.
Years later, in 2012 , when Rivera Moya assumed the leadership of the ballet company for a second time, he decided to dance for inmates at penitentiary centers once more.
Now, with his own company “ La Cebra Danza Gay ” ( The Zebra Gay Dance Company ), which has over 22 years of trajectory , he has decided to retake Flores Canelo’s project by visiting several penitentiaries and performing works from their repertoire that address the subject of sexual diversity.
“In 2014 , as director of the Independent Ballet, I set out to perform again and they accepted it. We danced on three occasions and, while we were in the penitentiary, I presented Love Letters , a play that features testimonies of people living with HIV . Shortly after it ended, some inmates approached me because they wanted to share their stories with me, and I wasn’t prepared for that, I had only planned to dance for them so, in a way, it came as a shock to me. Some people told me that they were living with HIV, others spoke to me alleging innocence. This experience made me realize that, although there has been some progress in Mexico City , there are still forgotten places that we need to explore and attend to,” Rivera told in an interview.
According to the choreographer, the penitentiary center assistance project will be part of La Cebra ’s regular dance seasons. The most recent was held last June at the Guillermina Bravo Dance Theater , where the company presented two premieres: "Friday Afternoon," and "Equines in Search for Blood." During the month of July , the company went to four penitentiary centers, the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center for Men (CEVAREPSI), the “Tepepan” Women’s Center for Social Rehabilitation, the Santa Martha Penitentiary, and the South Pretrial Detention Center .
“At the CEVAREPSI center we asked ourselves many questions, it made me think deeply about the existence of a sector that everyone seems to forget about. With the girls, there was a different energy. During our play “Military School,” after I explained to them that our company addressed the subject and struggles of the LGBT+ community , they became very excited. They even congratulated and hugged us,” he stated.
“At the Penitentiary things are a little different, because the Shakespeare Forum has done a lot of work there, with their dance company. At the South Detention Center, we got acquainted with the local gay community. I have found this experience very interesting and stimulating, both for me and my company. In other times, we wouldn’t have been able to make this tour. We chose a repertoire to provide food for thought, but also some festive plays.” Added Rivera Moya.
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