MAINSTAGE 2025-2026
Seeds of Resistance
An Interdisciplinary Tribute to Rosario Castellanos’ Life and Work
TEMPO Dance & Visual Art
Photo: Luciana Freire d’Anunciacao
Seeds of Resistance
An Interdisciplinary Tribute to Rosario Castellanos’ Life and Work
Seeds of Resistance is a multidisciplinary performance co-produced by TEMPO Dance & Visual Art and the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), with translator Nancy Ross as project initiator. Inspired by the life and words of Rosario Castellanos—a pioneering feminist voice in Mexican and Latin American literature—the work brings her poetry, essays, and letters into the present, where their urgency continues to resonate.
Castellanos fearlessly questioned societal norms, exposed the invisibilization of Indigenous communities, and examined the intersections of power, gender, and privilege. Her voice—sharp in irony, rich in humanity—offers a lens through which we can confront our own realities today.
Through contemporary dance, visual projections, poetic recitations, and live music, Seeds of Resistance transforms her reflections into a vivid landscape of movement, sound, and imagery. The performance invites audiences into a dialogue across time and geography, bridging Mexican cultural heritage with Canadian contexts, and honouring the enduring relevance of her call to action:
"By questioning the place we occupy in the world, we open the possibility of changing reality." - Rosario Castellanos
In this living interpretation, TEMPO and VLACC offer more than a performance—they create an act of cultural preservation, exchange, and resistance, keeping alive the voice of a woman whose truths still demand to be heard.
Tempo Dance and Visual Art
Tempo Dance and Visual Art is a multidisciplinary company that works by project seeking to create, connect and share visions of the world through contemporary dance, photography, video, installation and education. Founded in Mexico in 2019 by Carla Alcántara—Mexican dancer, emerging choreographer, visual artist, and educator—TEMPO began as a platform for artistic collaboration rooted in community and social impact. Through her passion and commitment to positively transforming others’ lives, Carla has worked with many artists to develop choreographic works and inspiring workshops that continue to impact many.
Today, TEMPO is co-directed by Carla Alcántara and Marco Esccer, a queer Mexican dance artist, choreographer, and Dance Movement Therapist based in Vancouver. Together, they bring a shared vision for interdisciplinary creation, cultural exchange, and community-driven practice. Their collaborative leadership continues to expand TEMPO’s reach and deepen its commitment to art as a vehicle for connection, reflection, and collective storytelling.
TEMPO has participated in performances and festivals including "POP UP Dances" by New Works (Vancouver, BC), "All Over The Map" by New Works (Vancouver, BC), "Postcards Digital Short Works" by Spring Works (Ontario, Canada ) "Spring Market Festival" by VLACC (Vancouver BC), III Contemporary Dance Festival "Cuerpo al Discovered" (CDMX), "Sibu International Dance Festival" (Sibu, Malaysia), "Festival Without Walls México" (Tijuana, MX), "IMARP Mostra Internacional de Dança- Imagens em Movimiento- Video dança" (Brazil),
TEMPO Dance & Visual Art has the privilege to be located in unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations or so called Vancouver since 2021.
Performance History & Upcoming Performances
Seeds of Resistance premiered May 15, 2025, at The Roundhouse Community Centre, Vancouver, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Rosario Castellanos. Presented by the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), the event was co-produced with TEMPO Dance & Visual Art and supported by the Grayross Foundation.
The project was initiated by Nancy Ross, whose dedication to translating and sharing Castellanos’ work inspired the celebration. This collaboration brought together TEMPO Co-directors Carla Alcántara and Marco Esccer, OME Dance performers Silene Razo and Judith Colibrí, live music by Ricardo Hardy, video design by Carla Alcántara (mentored by Caroline Maccaull/Chimerik), costume design by Juliana Silva, and lighting design by Victoria Bell. The pre-show exhibition, envisioned by Alcántara, Esccer, and Silva, invited audiences to immerse themselves in Castellanos’ world.
The performance integrated dance, theatre, live music, and projections, creating a layered sensory landscape. Audience feedback highlighted the work’s emotional depth and cultural resonance.
The premiere marked the first stage of a project with strong potential for touring and further development, offering presenters a distinctive, interdisciplinary, and culturally rooted work for diverse audiences.
Project Created by: The project was initiated by Nancy Ross, whose dedication to translating and sharing Castellanos’ work planted the seed for this celebration. Inspired by this vision, VLACC partnered with TEMPO Dance & Visual Art to co-produce this event, with the support of the Grayross Foundation. This collaboration brings together TEMPO Co-directors Carla Alcántara and Marco Esccer, alongside OME Dance performers and devisers Silene Razo and Judith Colibrí.
The performance is enriched by live music from Ricardo Hardy, evocative video design by Carla Alcántara, with mentorship from Caroline Maccaull (Chimerik), costume design by Juliana Silva, and atmospheric lighting by Victoria Bell, shaping the visual and emotional tone of the piece. The exhibition, envisioned by Carla Alcántara and Juliana Silva, invites audiences to immerse themselves in Castellanos’ world before the performance.
This event is made possible thanks to the dedication of many more collaborators, partners, and organizations whose support and contributions are integral to bringing this vision to life.
Key Artistic Collaborators: Performance
Artistic Co-Directors: Carla Alcántara & Marco Esccer
Performers & Co-creators: Carla Alcántara, Marco Esccer, Judith Colibrí, Silene Razo
Music Director & Sound Design: RCHRDY
Dramaturg: Ana Maria Carrizales
Project Initiator & Literary Consultant: Nancy Ross
Video Design: Carla Alcántara
Video Mentor: Caroline Maccaull
Costume Designer: Juliana Silva
Lighting Designer Victoria Bell
Stage Manager: Kaili Che
Event illustration (poster & banners): Ari de la Mora
Graphic Designer: Claudia Fleury
Living Installation
Art Direction & Concept: Carla Alcantara, Marco Esccer & Juliana Silva
Installation artist: Juliana Silva
Installation artist assistant: Julian Esteban Pintor
Performance type: THIS WORK IS BUILT FOR THEATRE, THIS WORK IS ADAPTABLE TO THEATRE OR OUTDOORS OR ALTERNATE VENUES /SPACES
How do you define this work: Dance/Theatre. Interdisciplinary. Live Music
Length of performance: 50 min plus a 20 min talk back
Audience type: General Audience
General Technical Requirements: General Technical Requirements:
- Video projector
- Piano or electric piano
- QLab or Isadora program (if mapping or video projection)
- Projection surface: black scrim preferred (company can supply if theatre does not have one) or white cyc as an alternative
- Boom mics, lavalier mics, or handheld microphones depending on venue audio capacity (scenes can be adapted with recorded music/text if live audio is not possible)
- Lighting with programmable specials
- Wooden or marley floor (barefoot performance)
Props and Set (provided by company):
- Small wooden table with wheels
- Doll
- Rosario Castellanos’ book
- Typewriter
- Costumes
Required amount of time for tech set up: Minimum 6 hours, maximum 12 hours. Timing depends on whether the scrim is pre-rigged, the number of lighting specials required, microphone setup, and piano tuning. Adjustments and scaling down are possible if technical conditions are confirmed in advance.
Alternative Venues: Preferably performed on wooden floor or marley, as we dance barefoot. No access needs for the artists.
If presented in alternative venues, outdoors, or site-specific settings, we are open to exploring options. We have previously adapted excerpts for spaces such as the Vancouver Public Library; however, presenting the full work may be challenging due to the integral role of video projection in the dramaturgy. We can adapt technical elements to fit alternative venues when required.
(Optional installation) In its first iteration, we created an installation audiences could explore for one hour before the show. This installation can be presented in gallery spaces as a stand-alone exhibition or in combination with a performance within the installation. Presenting the installation requires more than one or two days in the venue due to setup time. While it is an added value, it is best considered in partnership with galleries or venues that can host it longer-term.
Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 5
Number of Support Staff on Tour: 1
Project Details
Community Engagement
1. Community Workshop: “Preguntas a Rosario” (Questions to Rosario)
A bilingual, interdisciplinary workshop exploring Castellanos’ legacy through movement, dialogue, and creative exploration. Guided by Carla Alcántara, Marco Esccer, and Ome Dance Collective, participants engage with themes of feminism, equity, Indigenous heritage, and poetry as empowerment. Welcoming all backgrounds, the workshop fosters intercultural dialogue, resilience, and reflection, using art to question the status quo. Accessible to artists and non-artists alike, it invites participants to embody Castellanos’ words and explore their relevance today.
2. Translating Rosario Castellanos: A Dance and Literary Tribute
Acclaimed translator Nancy Ross shares insights from over two decades of translating Castellanos’ letters, reading excerpts that reveal the author’s sharp intellect and deep humanity.
Artists from TEMPO Dance & Visual Art and Ome Dance offer a live preview of Seeds of Resistance, including discussion of the creative process and performed excerpts.
Designed for literary, dance, and cross-disciplinary audiences, the event invites communities to experience the creative process including discussion, audiences sharing reflections of literature into movement, sound, and imagery—revealing how Castellanos’ words remain urgently relevant.
Outreach Activities
We are committed to finding the balance between maintaining the artistic integrity of Seeds of Resistance and adapting the work to suit a variety of presentation contexts. While the full production is designed for theatres with full technical capabilities, we can modify certain elements—such as replacing live text with recordings, scaling lighting needs, or adjusting projection formats—so the piece can be presented in diverse spaces without compromising its core vision.
Our team enjoys exploring creative solutions and is open to tailoring the work for different venues, from large theatres to alternative spaces such as libraries, galleries, or outdoor sites. The piece can be presented in its entirety, as an excerpt, or paired with our outreach offerings (Preguntas a Rosario workshop and/or Translating Rosario Castellanos event) to deepen audience engagement.
We value transparent conversations around finances, timelines, and technical capacities, and we see each presentation as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with presenters and communities. Touring this work is not only about sharing a performance—it is about creating cultural exchange, opening dialogue, and honouring the legacy of this important Mexican writer in ways that are relevant to each unique audience.