« S.W.E.A.T. » (Sex/uality. Work. Extraction. Art. Theatr/ics): with Demonia Yeguaza #26

Demonia Yeguaza is a force of nature in the world of dance, activism, and artistic expression. As an activist, performer, and dancer specializing in subversive, contemporary, and voguing dance. From a young age, Demonia’s path has been one of self-discovery and resilience. Through the transformative power of dance, she has navigated the complexities of identity and expression. Her artistic journey is marked by a deep commitment to understanding and embodying her true self, constructing her identity through every movement and performance.

Demonia is the Mother of the House of Yeguazas, a cornerstone of the Colombian Ballroom scene and a transdisciplinary artist collective. The House of Yeguazas is a sanctuary where all bodies, processes, questions, and curiosities are embraced. Under Demonia’s leadership, this collective has become a beacon of inclusivity and artistic innovation, fostering a vibrant community that celebrates diversity and creativity.

In addition to her work with the House of Yeguazas, Demonia is the director of Frente de Resistencia Marica. This organization is dedicated to advocating for the creation and implementation of safe spaces and differential public policies for the LGBTIQ+ community. Through her activism, Demonia fights for the rights and recognition of marginalized communities, using her platform to amplify their voices and demands. Demonia is particularly interested in exploring the body and movement from the perspective of gender and sexual diversity. She believes that as human beings, everyone should have the same opportunities, rights, and the possibility to live with dignity. This belief drives her to create spaces and experiences where people can reflect on body transit, the pleasure and desire to move freely, and enjoy doing so without being constrained by categories such as "right" or "wrong."

As an artivist, Demonia strives to put her work in dialogue with everyday life, society, and public spaces. She believes that art should leave places of privilege, occupy other social spheres, and reach more communities. Viewing her body as her territory, raw material, and place of experiences, Demonia reflects on herself as a political subject, creating knowledge and living unique experiences that allow her to understand herself and navigate a society consumed by capitalism, homophobia, and classism.

Dance and movement mold and transit Demonia's body, mind, and political-bodily ideals. Voguing and mariconeo are her political stance and a commitment to defending her preferences and sense of inhabiting the world. She envisions subversive movements, insurgent dancers, and social rebellion, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in dance and activism.

We are joined by Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Pateau who helped with translation

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/demonia yeguaza /

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWfP9wnYRMJr3sbGHw8YOvw

• https://www.instagram.com/house.of.yeguazas/

TRACKS PLAYED

Mad Kate - My Fear of Pretending (featuring Lori Baldwin) Demonia Yeguaza on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jonatan-sandoval-3063403 Dave Seaman - Thonk! (Whitesquare Remix) LICK MY ACID RIRI (Young Miko x Aphex Twin) https://soundcloud.com/2at/riri-licker-v1 DRIPPIN × PLAN B - Bubble Room (LAO Sensual Bootleg)

We all sweat as we provide care, as we labour, as we perform our work, as we fuck, as we survive and as we sacrifice one choice for the other. How exactly do we define our work and how does that work entangle and circumscribe our sexual identities, our racialized bodies, our creative lives and the ways in which we provide care? How do we perform both tasks and identities within the framework of that which we consider work? These conversations are a means to speak between intersectionalities by anchoring through our (always, already, and ever pervasive) sexualized and racialized bodies, our working bodies, our artistic bodies and our performative bodies. I hope that they contribute to dialogues which normalize sex work as work, and all work as deserving of respect, healthy conditions, and a living wage.

You can find out more https://www.alfabus.us/s-w-e-a-t/

Mad Kate (they/them) is an electronic producer, sound designer, performance artist and writer who began working the Berlin performance and club scene in 2004, expanding their unique identity-queering, genderfcking and sexpositive performative work throughout music, theatre and film. Their explorations of borders between/within bodies, audibility, consent, proximity, and touch as political practice have brought them to theaters, communes, technomansions, prisons, dungeons, squats and galleries around the world.