Reflecting on the Stories From Home Performance at the WAA Juried Showcase

We were thrilled to have the cast of Stories From Home perform at the Juried Showcase during the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) Annual Conference in San Diego, CA.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, the event took place at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego. The showcase began at 7:35 pm, with Stories From Home captivating the audience at 8:35 pm. The cast shared powerful excerpts from two dances, both deeply inspired by my family history.

The first piece, Pajarito, depicted the multigenerational impact of the atomic age on my family living on the Pajarito Plateau in Los Alamos, New Mexico, before and after the creation of the Atomic Bomb. This dance explored the profound legacy of that era and its enduring effects on my ancestors.

The second piece, Braceros, honored the life and experiences of my father, Juan “Johnny” Sebastian Montoya Sena. The dance portrayed his time as a child migrant laborer under the Bracero Program in the early 1960s, picking watermelon and cantaloupe in Southern Arizona and Southern California. Through this piece, the audience was given a glimpse into the hardships and resilience of those who worked under this program.

Sharing these family stories and the broader narratives of the Southwest at WAA was a meaningful experience. The dances highlighted the rich oral traditions of the Nuevomexicano, Chicano, and Mexican American communities in the American Southwest, offering a poignant portrayal of love, family, and home. It was an honor to bring these stories to the stage and to connect with the WAA community through our shared heritage and artistry.