“The Garden of the Hesperides” is a Spanish-Moroccan project that has been developed through an exhaustive research process and through various workshops held with Moroccan and Spanish women in Casablanca and Valladolid, giving rise to the creation of this piece of dance-theater.
A show, which is a hymn to women, on a round trip between cultures and their peculiarities, and which serves to celebrate the 25 years of history of the Alicia Soto-Hojarasca company. Created in three artistic residencies, Thèâtre Ain Harrouda, Casablanca, Centro Cultural Serrada, and Teatro Calderón de Valladolid, The garden of the Hesperides It premiered on September 25 and 26, 2020 at the Calderón Theater in Valladolid with the support of the Calderón Theater in Valladolid and General Subdirectorate of International Relations and European Union, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Visages Program.
The show has earned the seal of the 5th Centenary of Magellan's First Circumnavigation of the World, for its quality and theme.
Published by Le Quotidien after the performance on March 20, 2025, at the 4ème art Theatre in Tunis, opening the Tunis Théâtres du Monde festival.
Published by Mohamed Sami on Backstage30.com after the March 20, 2025 performance at the 4ème art Theatre in Tunis, opening the Tunis Théâtres du Monde festival.
A black woman from a modest family gives birth to a baby girl with albinism. It confronts widespread beliefs about albinos. She is afraid of losing her daughter, who on the one hand is rejected by society and on the other attracts people who will do anything to sacrifice her.
Despite everything, the girl grows up facing all the difficulties.
Peur de la couleur (Fear of color) It is a puppet and dance show, aimed at children from 8 years old, performed by young people.
A poetic fable that talks about fear and love, whose protagonist is an albino girl.
Note of intent- Mamby Mawinee
My daughter Ramata was born with albinism and grew up in a society where people like her are discriminated against and marginalized for being different.
With this show, we want to show how even supposedly “normal” people can be cruel towards those with disabilities or considered different. We also seek to raise awareness among children, adolescents and adults about the problems that albino people must face.
We have chosen to use masks and puppets in this show because of their sacred and ritual dimension. Puppets offer possibilities of representation that cannot be achieved with realism alone. In this show, we have also chosen not to use text, but rather let the body speak through movement. Sometimes a gesture towards someone can do more harm than an insult or a slap. A look can hurt like a gun bullet. This story is also told through music, which is an integral part of the performance
Note of intent – Alicia Soto
Talking about the problem of albinos seemed more than necessary to us and the best way to raise awareness and show this injustice was to create a piece for children.
And although the theme is tough, and the research on the topic helped us build a dramaturgy, decide what we wanted to tell and how; The work is built like a fable, full of poetry, where the puppets help us recreate fantastic characters. The masks, the comedy of art, give us a pinch of humor, and the body, the dance, tells us the story from emotion, because our story speaks of fear and love.
From the fear of what is different, of everything that goes beyond the established or mostly existing norms, shapes and colors, and only with love can we accept it.
albinism
Albinism is an anomaly and a hereditary genetic mutation that affects pigmentation and is characterized by a deficit in the production of melanin, responsible for skin color in humans.
In humans, regardless of the ethnic origin of the individual, the skin tone is waxy white or slightly pinkish. The hair is white or red, as are the hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. People with albinism are particularly sensitive to light (photophobia) and the effects of ultraviolet rays, so they have a higher risk of burns and even skin cancer when exposed to the sun. The ocular and skin manifestations can be severe.
Albino people around the world are often victims of discrimination due to their different appearance, but the discrimination faced by albinos living in sub-Saharan Africa is much greater than in the rest of the world. The forms of witchcraft practiced in sub-Saharan countries are an inexhaustible source of prejudice and fear for albino people living in Africa, where magic and superstitions are widespread practices.
Although nearly 700 attacks have been recorded in the sub-Saharan region in the last decade, the real number is estimated to be much higher.
Artistic Direction and Choreography: Alicia Soto
Dancers-Performers: Julián Gómez Pavón, Alicia Soto
Musical Creation: Luis la Forga
Video and photography: Luis Antonio Barajas
Creative design: José Navarro
Communication: Virginia Grigelmo
Administration: Sofía García Fernández
Management: João Sousa Marques
Costumes: Alicia Soto – Hojarasca
Regards (Looks) It is a show to encourage the gaze that moves between the playful, the poetic and the contemporary. Creating a new dramaturgy of images, of great beauty and poetry, which is divided into four acts or scenes, using contemporary dance and Break dance as artistic language, not only in an encounter but in a dialogue.
A choreographic and dramaturgical journey in which the presence of Morocco and a multicultural influence can be glimpsed, with ethnic sounds, and spiritual and electronic songs that create urban and natural landscapes.
The conception of the show starts from the duet, and Estudio 3: Miradas). The choreographer, driven to continue investigating the concept of the gaze, was inspired to create a broader program that revolved around our desires and the relationship with others from our own or someone else's perspective.
Duration 60 minutes.
Particular Creation Process between artistic residences and representations:
Created in different artistic residences, between Spain and Morocco, with the collaboration of the Cervantes Institute of Casablanca, the Patio Corsario, Valladolid, La Nave del Duende, Casar de Cáceres and the Principal Theater of Burgos.
This show culminates after a year of work and artistic relationship between Alicia Soto and Julián Gómez Pabón.
Each city has been a place of common work and search, which culminated in a presentation with the public, to share, listen and continue to encourage the look.
During 2018, it was presented in different Spanish cities, always in the process of creation.
It premieres internationally in September 2018 at the Stage Dance Festival Shanghai. China. With a great reception.
National premiere at the Teatro Principal de Burgos, April 26, 2019.
So far there are no new sessions planned
We will inform you once a month of the company's activities.