For over a decade, the work of Mexican collective Créssida Contemporary Dance has explored countless aspects of the human condition through rigorous dance technique, poetic force and provocative gestures tinted by a theatrical gaze. The company makes their New York debut with the world premiere of Naj (House), created by the troupe’s Artistic Director Lourdes Luna in close collaboration with Mexican-American composer Carlo Nicolau.

The piece is inspired by Mayan poet Briseida Cuevas Cob’s “A yáax tuupl” (The First Earring) and offers a contemporary focus of Mayan worldview. Luna establishes a dialogue with Cuevas Cob’s poem as a starting point for a multidisciplinary interpretation with original music and movement. This binational project echoes the United Nations’ declaration of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages to celebrate their contribution to diversity around the world.

Créssida will also perform La primera piedra (The Foundation Stone), created by Roberto Olivan and directed by Lourdes Luna. The work presents an atypical format, a web of stories—realities experienced by the performers while searching to create empathy with their audience. La primera piedra approaches the current Mexican character and personal themes that pierce trough borders.

This performance is part of LaGuardia Performing Arts Center’s 2019-2020 Season.
Music and choreography for‘Naj (House)’ are co-commissioned, co-produced and co-presented by Celebrate Mexico Now Festival and LaGuardia Community College with additional support from CUNY Mexican Studies Institute