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If Cities Could Dance

Latina Dancer Uplifts Stories from U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

Season 5 Episode 1

In Tucson, Arizona, dancer and choreographer Yvonne Montoya mixes contemporary dance with oral histories from the American Southwest borderlands, showcasing the diversity of voices, experiences, and body movements of Latinx, Mexican American, Chicanx, Mexican and other immigrant communities. Her dance “Braceros” was inspired by her father who as a child worked alongside migrant farmworkers.

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Memphis Jookin: A Ballet for the Streets
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Jookin star G-Nerd and a younger generation of dancers spin and slide across Memphis.
Oakland Turf Dancing
3:06
Turf dancers combine abrupt, angular movements with graceful footwork.
Mexican Folk Dance in Fresno, CA
3:34
Oaxacan diaspora keeps its culture alive in San Joaquin Valley.
Community-Building in Seattle's Popping Scene and Beyond
3:10
Street-style dancer Moonyeka creates safe spaces for women of color and LGBTQ+ communities
East Bay Hip-Hop Dance in Richmond, CA
2:57
Dance group R.O.O.T.S. the Movement represent their hometown with pride and power.
Chicago Footwork: A Lightning-Fast Dance of Resistance
2:55
The street dance style elevates Chicago's South and West Sides communities.
Native American Hoop Dancing and Hip-Hop in Minneapolis
5:13
The Sampson Brothers perform at the starting place of the American Indian Movement.
A Praise Dance for Oakland
2:51
Frankie Lee Peterson III draws inspiration from the Town's African-American history.
Poppin' With San Jose's Playboyz Inc.
3:14
In this East San Jose style, arms move and lock, while feet glide across the pavement
The High Energy Footwork of Baltimore Club
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Moves like the "crazy legs" and the "spongebob" came out of the city's 90s nightclub scene
A Queer Circus Flies Over Portland
3:02
Aerialist Jack StockLynn's choreographed "dance in the sky" defies gender roles.
A Duet Through a Rarely Seen Los Angeles
2:52
Imagine a version of 'La La Land' filmed amongst the lesser-known landmarks of LA
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