The Disappearing Act

Yinka Esi Graves
27/01/2026
  • Duur: 60'
  • Location : Manège (Caserne Fonck)

Royaume-Uni/Espagne

For her first creation, flamenco dancer Yinka Esi Graves explores notions of absence and invisibility through the lens of her own journey. In The Disappearing Act, she examines how History, representation, and the gaze shape the presence of bodies on stage.

Inspired by the figure of Olga Brown — a Black acrobat of the 19th century immortalized by French painter Edgar Degas as Mademoiselle Lala — Yinka Esi Graves reimagines the character of La Lala, a hybrid and elusive figure, to question crypsis: the ability some living beings have to make themselves invisible within their environment in order to survive.

Surrounded by flamenco guitarist Raúl Cantizano, London-based multi-instrumentalist Donna Thompson, and singer Rosa de Algeciras, Yinka Esi Graves signs a collective, vibrant, and richly layered work, where voices, rhythms, and memories intertwine.

Calendar

Date Hour
Tuesday, January 27 8:00 pm Book

Tarifs

  • Plein tarif 31 €
  • 65ans+/Carte prof/Groupe10+ 26 €
  • -30ans/Pro/Dem.d'emploi 13 €
  • Groupe scolaire 8 €
  • -15ans 7 €
  • Etudiants Conservatoires Art de la parole 5 €
Book

Distributions

Concept and direction Yinka Esi Graves

Choreography, dance and performance Yinka Esi Graves

Musical direction and guitar Raúl Cantizano

Drums and texts Remi Graves / Donna Thompson

Vocals Rosa de Algeciras

Lighting Carmen Mori

Image and cinematography Miguel Ángel Rosales

Costumes Stephanie Coudert / Roberto Martinez

Sound engineering Enrique Gonzalez

Lighting and video engineering Carmen Mori

Production María González / Trans-Forma Production Culturelle

Co-production Arts Council England, Africa Moment, Horizon: Performance Created in England, Théâtre de Nîmes – Flamenco Festival, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona – GREC, Centro Servicios Culturales Santa Chiara – Trento / Trentino – Alto Adige Südtirol Dance Circuit

Artistic residencies Factoría Cultural – Instituto de Cultura y las Artes – Sevilla, Dance4 – Nottingham, Centro de Creación y Artes Vivas El Graner at Africa Moment’2 – Barcelona, Flamenco Festival – Nîmes, Bienal de Flamenco – Sevilla, Teatro de la Maestranza – Sevilla

Partnership Centre culturel de Huy

     

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