Flamenco Biënnale Nederland * Yinka Esi Graves * 24.10.2025

24.10 Musis Arnhem, 20:30 h

“A gem of a performance in which Yinka Esi Graves, resplendent in purple, brings flamenco’s diasporic roots to life with virtuoso precision and sparkling intensity,” wrote art historian Claire Bishop in Art Forum about The Disappearing Act. Bishop also named it one of the ten best performances of 2024 in Artforum magazine. In her first solo project, British choreographer Yinka Esi Graves explores African influences in flamenco under the inspiring musical direction of guitarist Raúl Cantizano. Afro-Andalusian memories are depicted in a performance that radiates energy.

Exploring the diasporic roots of flamenco

How do you stay connected to a reality that appears to be lost? In The Disappearing Act, Yinka Esi Graves explores the black roots of flamenco, and her own reality as a flamenco dancer of Afro-Caribbean origin.

Inspired by 19th century circus artist Olga Brown, also known as Miss La La from a famous painting by Edgar Degas, Graves investigates camouflage as a way to be physically present in a threatening environment (crypsis), and embodies the continuous resistance against invisibility and erasure.

Using dance, live music and video, Graves creates a powerful and personal performance that takes the form of a Concert Party, a Ghanaian variety show. Accompanied by hiphop and jazz drummer Donna Thomson, flamenco singer Rosa de Algeciras and flamenco guitarist and musical explorer Raúl Cantizano this promises to become a brilliant celebration.

Since its premiere at the Nîmes Flamenco Festival (2023), The Disappearing Act has been touring leading festivals such as GREC (Barcelona), La Bâtie (Geneva), Festival d’Avignon and Tanz Im August (Berlin).

Introduction – Meet the Artist

19:30 Introduction by Carlos van Tongeren: Yinka Esi Graves and the flamenco dance as decolonial praxis
22:00 Meet the artist led by Carlos van Tongeren & Ernestina van Noort
22:00 -23:30 Afterparty with DJ Jurencio

Photo: Alain Scherer, The Disappearing Act

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