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Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond: Women in Resistance Shall Not Be Moved

This dance film combines biography, poetry, and ritual with the energy of live performance to bridge stories of resistance and liberation between Puerto Rico and Richmond, VA, honoring Black women tobacco workers in Richmond and Puerto Rican tobacco factory readers and activists Dominga de La Cruz Becerril (1909-1981) and Luisa Capetillo (1879-1922).

  • Alicia Diaz
    Director
  • Patricia Herrera
    Writer
  • David Riley
    Producer
  • Christine Wyatt
    Key Cast
    "Dominga de la Cruz"
  • Christine Leoni-Osion
    Key Cast
    "Luisa Capetillo"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond: Women in Resistance Shall Not Be Moved
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Screendance
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 21 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 12, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Afrikana Independent Film Festival
    Richmond, VA
    United States
    September 17, 2020
    World Premiere
    Best of the Fest
  • The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival
    Brooklyn, NY
    United States
    June 8, 2021
    Brooklyn Premiere
    Vanguard Award for Outstanding Experimental Film
  • Utah Dance Film Festival
    Orem
    United States
    May 28, 2021
    Utah Premiere
    1st Place for Original Music
  • Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
    Philadelphia
    United States
    June 1, 2021
    Philadelphia Permiere
    Official Selection-Los Shorts Program
  • Buenos Aires International Film Festival
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    Semi-Finalist
  • WRPN Women’s International Film Festival

    United States
    Excellence Award
  • Sans Soucie Festival of Dance Cinema
    Colorado
    United States
    September 24, 2021
    Colorado
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alicia Diaz

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Alicia Díaz is co-director of Agua Dulce Dance Theater with movement artist Matthew Thornton. As a Puerto Rican contemporary dance artist in the diaspora her choreographic work speaks to issues of migration, colonialism, and the legacy of slavery. Her artistic research is rooted in the premise that the body is a site of knowledge, and on questions of memory and identity. Alicia performed professionally with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Andanza: Puerto Rican Contemporary Dance Company, Donald Byrd/The Group (The Harlem Nutcracker), Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, and the Maida Withers Dance Construction Company amongst others. She has collaborated extensively with Puerto Rican independent dance artists Esther Nequi González and Marion Ramírez, as well as percussionist Héctor “Coco” Barez. Her choreographic work has been presented in the United States, Spain, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Alicia is dance faculty at The University of Richmond.

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Director Statement

I migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States as a child and the culture shock that I experienced resonated through my bones. The most effective way I found to establish a sense of self was through movement and dance. As a result, I am interested in generating experiences through movement that can bridge the individual and the collective leading to a better understanding of our shared humanity.

"Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond: Women in Resistance Shall Not Be Moved" is a bilingual film directed by Alicia Díaz and co-created with dramaturg Patricia Herrera, dance artists Chrisitne Wyatt and Christina Leoni-Osion, interdisciplinary artist Luis Vasquez La Roche, percussionist Héctor “Coco” Barez, actor/singer Yaraní del Valle, and produced and edited by David Riley.