GoldGrrl

Description

Dubbed the "Fierceness of Femininity" AfroPunk, GoldGrrl (she/her) is an Afro-Panamanian Army brat raised on folkloric dance. Her artistic practice bursts from African diasporic expression, challenging gender performance and fusing an exciting background in Chicago street dance. She has performed with hip hop non-profit Culture Shock, breakdance crew Awesome Style Konnection, poppin crew Robot MAFIA, and robotting duo FunkBotNots (with 3Arts winner Poppin Chuck). A former living statue, she is currently most active in the local ballroom scene Old Way performance kid in House of Alain Mikli.

Work Sample

Lay On Me, July/29/2022, 4:12, culmination of Kimani Fowlin's Embodying Truth workshop at Bates Dance Festival 2022

The work samples I submitted relates to my entire body of work because I consistently present work that channels my Panamanian heritage while incorporating hip hop culture.

Artistic Vision

[Artistic Vision text]

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

My artform is Panamanian folkloric ballet. It relates to my heritage because I was born in Panama and my mother is Panamanian. My dad is African-American and met my mom when he was stationed in Panama by the U.S. Army. We left Panama when I was 3yo, relocating to New York, then Georgia, then North Carolina where my mom initially involved me in her folkloric dance troupe. Somehow, she was always able to find other Panamanians no matter where we lived. I danced in groups with her for three more moves. The dance connects me with Panama no matter where I go. Where I live now, there aren't many Panamanians, and I don't share her same talent for finding Panamanians, but the tipico dances I learned allow me to connect with other Latinos at dance events.