Yinka Esi Graves
The Disappearing Act
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). Critic Claire Bishop has named it one of the ten best performances of 2024 in Artforum magazine.
