closer to women living in situations of vulnerability and create dialogue through dance, acting as a personal way to experience movement, rhythm and emotion. It is an intimate but shared journey to seek the strength and wisdom we are given by our bodies as they dance away. What moves us? What lived experiences do we have to show what we feel through the body and motion? What is our voice? What is the story we want to tell? How can we dance it or sing it? Can we dance our hopes, dreams or scars?

Under the artistic direction of Jerez-born dancer Leonor Leal, the initiative will examine the concept of self-expression through dance and speech. In addition to the Plata collective, which conceived the project, there has also been participation by the associations MZC (Women in Zones of Conflict) and APERFOSA (PENIEL Association for SOCIAL REHABILITATION AND TRAINING), as well as other rural women’s groups. The project is one of those chosen for the program “Art for Change” by the La Caixa Foundation.

From April through June, a schedule of activities will be held, including both rehearsals and a final show at Casa Árabe’s headquarters in Cordoba that will also be audiovisually documented by Cordoba filmmaker Joaquín Aneri.

Leonor Leal (Jerez de la Frontera, 1980), is a restless, curious and somewhat atypical dancer in the world of flamenco. With solid training in classical and Spanish dance, in flamenco she has found a vehicle for her artistic and personal development. After several years as part of flamenco companies like those of Antonio “El Pipa,” Andrés Marín, Javier Barón and the Andalusia Flamenco Ballet directed by Cristina Hoyos, she has been approaching the world of choreographic creativity with shows of her own since 2008: “Leoleolé” (2008), “eLe eLe” (2011), “Mosaicos” (2012), “Naranja amarga” (2013) and “Frágil” (2015). Her career as asolo performer has been acknowledged through several awards, including Outstanding Dancer in the Madrid Choreography Contest of Spanish Dance and Flamenco in 2008, and the Award for Best New Artist at the Jerez Festival of 2011. She is currently combining her career in the arts with university studies on Stagecraft and Visual Culture, as part of a Master’s degree program offered by the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid.