MORE ABOUT FORCARIS

Accessible dance, Ignited by the Inner Fire

This dance piece explores fire as a symbol of encounter, transformation, and inner strength. It draws inspiration from the etymology of the word «home,» derived from the Latin «focaris», which in turn relates to fire. This concept guides a deeply human staging, where the collective and the personal intertwine through a poetic and accessible language.

In FOCARIS, each performer —with and without disabilities— expresses their own «inner fire» through choreographies that weave groups encounter with intimate solos. The structure of the work takes reference from the chorus of Greek theatre, in which the group accompanies, comments on, or contrasts the individual expressions, highlighting the uniqueness and the richness of each corporality.

Developed under the principle of Universal Accessibility, the project integrates Sign Language and creative audio description directly into its dramaturgy. Rather than being treated as external accommodations, these resources are transformed into expressive artistic languages, allowing d/Deaf and blind audiences to experience the work autonomously, while creating an enriched aesthetic experience for the audience as a whole.

FOCARIS features an interdisciplinary artistic team, completely original music by René Moreno, and is directed by Laisvie Ochoa and Diana León, directors of ConCuerpos, whose joint work enhances a diverse, sensitive, and high-quality artistic creation. The piece was originally created as an international collaboration project between ConCuerpos Colombia and the Netherlands.

The Aesthetics of Access

We conceive of accessibility not as a technical add-on but as a creative principle. Our goal is to build a truly universal art form where the diversity of bodies, languages, and ways of perceiving is an essential part of the artistic process. We believe that art has the power to transform realities when it promotes a genuine encounter between differences. Therefore, we strive for all people to access the performing arts autonomously, with dignity, and meaningfully.

From this perspective, FOCARIS is not just a dance piece, but part of a long-term investigation into the Aesthetic of Access. It is also a call for cultural co-responsibility, urging the elimination of the architectural, symbolic, and social barriers that limit full access to the arts. With this project, ConCuerpos reaffirms its commitment to building a performing arts scene that is more inclusive, equitable, and enriched by difference.

In FOCARIS, accessibility is integrated into the dramaturgy, movement, and visual composition, becoming part of the performance’s inherent language. Sign Language is part of the choreographic vocabulary; Audio description is conceived as an immersive resource, designed not only for blind or low-vision audiences but as a narrative element that enriches the work offering an enveloping experience for sighted audiences as well. Through these strategies, FOCARIS proposes a way of making dance where accessibility does not subtract, but adds meaning, enhances the experience, and reveals new possibilities for communication and sensitivity on stage.