Yinka Esi Graves: The Disappearing Act

In this work Yinka Esi Graves draws on her reality as a flamenco dancer of Afro-Caribbean descent and the historical and representational questions this has raised throughout her career. Removal, absence and invisibility become materials with which to create. 

The Disappearing Act puts one being on display, La Lala; inspired by the 19th century acrobat and circus artist Olga Brown, depicted in the Degas painting Miss La La at the Fernando Circus. In a three-part performance, she proposes an experiment in which camouflage and crypsis are the main modes for (dis)appearance and exploring the implications of constantly resisting negation. 

Crypsis: the ability an animal has to avoid observation or detection by other animals. It may be a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation. Methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle and mimicry.

Collaborating in the work are renowned flamenco guitarist Raúl Cantizano, a pioneer of improvisation in this genre; drummer Donna Thompson, who approaches the work via hip hop and jazz influenced grooves; and flamenco singer Rosa de Algeciras, who creates new lyrics inspired by the concepts in the piece. The Disappearing Act has been developed through a series of residencies in the UK, Spain and France. 

Bios

Yinka Esi Graves is a British dance maker and flamenco artist. Her work excavates the links between flamenco and contemporary forms rooted in the African diaspora.

With a long career in flamenco, she studied at the Amor de Dios dance school in Madrid and later in Seville with artists such as La Lupi, Andrés Marín, Yolanda Heredia and Juana Amaya. As a flamenco dancer she has accompanied renowned artists such as Remedios Amaya and Concha Buika. Graves' more recent work with dance makers and thinkers Nora Chipaumire and Dr Ama Wray have helped further define her work spanning from stage pieces to in situ site specific work, as a solo artist and collaborator.

Yinka's co-creation, Clay (2016), with choreographer Asha Thomas marked the beginning of a more investigative and experimental approach to her creation. Yinka also draws from her collaborations in productions such as Cuerpos Celestes and Origen by Cia Marco Vargas y Chloé Brûlé and Mailles by Dorothée Munyaneza, with whom she’s toured to festivals internationally.

Graves' first solo work, The Disappearing Act, premiered at the Nimes Flamenco Festival (France 2023) and has subsequently toured to international festivals such as El Grec, La Batie, FIT de Cadiz, Albuquerque Flamenco Festival, Tanz Im August Festival and Avignon Festival amongst others. This piece is the culmination of Yinka's multidisciplinary exploration of invisibility and erasure as it pertains to the black experience. As part of the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla 2022, Yinka presented The Disappearing Act: On Erasure, an illustrated lecture based on the theoretical corpus of the stage piece. Graves is currently developing a number of projects that will premiere in 2025-2026.

Raul Cantizano; an unclassifiable and unique guitarist, an explorer of the limits of the instrument and genres. He has accompanied and formed part of the most innovative flamenco projects of the 21st century. Working with Niño de Elche, Rocío Márquez and Andrés Marín amongst many leading flamenco artists. 

His latest work Zona Acordonada, an audio-visual concert for the 'prepared flamenco guitar' together with Los Voluble, premiered at the XXI Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, and has been presented at numerous festivals across Spain. 

Donna Thompson is a multi-instrumentalist based in London. Drumming and singing being her main passion, Donna has lent her skills to stalwarts across the music industry which has led to her own artistry being recognised internationally. Donna seamlessly blends contemporary Jazz improvisation, Afro-centric rhythms and Indie-soul inspired influences which has led to an exciting and compelling career for over 10 years.

Rosa De Algeciras was born in Algeciras (Cádiz) into a family with strong flamenco roots. Rosa has been a regular collaborator in the famous Tablao Los Gallos (Seville) and has formed part of various companies, such as the Orquesta Andalusí Chekara, Varuma Teatro and Salvador Távora's company La Cuadra, among others. Within her formal education, she has a teaching diploma and a Professional Degree in Flamenco Singing from the Conservatorio Superior de Música Cristóbal de Morales, in Seville.