The Open Seam: Torbellino 1—the Dance of the Hummingbird – Ndukun
End Game
15 November, 2024Lessons to Understand Art History
19 March, 2025WhiteBox NYC.
The Open Seam: Torbellino 1—the Dance of the Hummingbird – Ndukun, a performance by Yohanna M Roa. The artist shares a transformative encounter with a Kogi man from the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia, who describes a fifth race—the hummingbird. This race transcends color, moving around the world to spread messages of peace without adhering to rigid cultural categories. This performance challenges ideas of race, nationality, and gender by exploring the intersections of these identities. It aims to highlight the fluidity of culture and to question societal divisions.
The performance is inspired by Torbellino, a dance that symbolizes the fusion of cultures, particularly Indigenous rhythms and Spanish influences, including the tiple guitar. The dance’s rhythmic trot helps navigate mountain paths. The Roa´s costumes, known as historiographical textile sculptures, are central to the work. This garment, based on the reboso and pollera (traditional garments), reflects the artist’s interest in how personal and political identities intersect. The work explores the blending of European and Indigenous traditions, such as the mantón de Manila and the huipil, emphasizing the complexity and political power of clothing.
Images credits: Details performance Yohanna M Roa, 2025.Photos by Robin Michaels