Photo Credits L to R:
Lourdez by Analisa Velasco-San Nicolas, Roldy by Roquin-Jon Quichocho Siongco, Dakota by Futsum Tsegai

Rosy Simas Danse hosts three thirty one space artist-in-residence Dakota Camacho and collaborators roldy aguero ablao and Lourdez Puti’on Velasco.

MALI’E’ • Giya Mni Sota Makoce
(live streamed)

MALI’E’ is a Matao-CHamoru performance research project re(k)newing the spirit of embodied musicality as oral history and prophecy. 

Thirteen artist-researchers living in Låguas (The Mariånas, the Matao-CHamoru homeland), and San Lagu (away from the homeland) have been collaborating with each other through Camacho’s original auto-ethnochoreographic methodology in the development of this iterative performance research project.

MALI’E’ • Giya Mni Sota Makoce invites an insight into the MALI’E’ creative process as three dxʷdəwʔɑb Territory-based Matao-CHamoru multi-disciplinary artists – roldy aguero ablao, Lourdez Puti’on Velasco, and Dakota Camacho – explore new expressions of the ancestral practice of exchanging memorized and improvisatory verses called Mali’e’ and kantan chamorrita. For this unique in-person/live-streamed event, other members of the MALI’E’ team will join for a public witnessing exchange.

The artist-researchers are blessed to be working with a steward of fino’ håya, Jeremy Cepeda, who has provided his original chant compositions as guiding material for sonic choreographies that tell the artists’ family stories. Cepeda has spent years under guidance by his mañaina (elders) in his family and wider community, while also conducting his own personal research into the language. He has composed a series of original chants that contain teachings from his elders and the findings of his research.

The traditional practice of Mali’e’ serves as a repository of our history, as it literally translates as ‘to have been seen’. As a creative research project, MALI’E’ recognizes that our stories, and our family stories are our history. By revealing both our beauty, joy, power and challenges, struggles, and hardships we seek to make visible I Ináfa’maolek na Chålan (the path of Unity with Creation).

We find our way by triangulating our life-family stories, our creative practices, and the teachings of fino’ håya yan i pengnga’-ta (our ancestral language and practices). As we journey, we find liberation in the unique ways we express our indigenous life ways.

MALI’E’ artists in person and joining online are:

Mariquita Micki Davis, Taotao Håga' Manggåfa' Pilele
Heidi Chargualaf-Quenga, Taotao Perezville (Tamuning), Inalåhåan, Piti, Manggåfa' Goyo yan Karabao
Franceska De Oro, Taotao Mangilao & Ipan, Manggåfa' Yeyi, Lazaro, & Måten
Ojeya Cruz Banks, Taotao Barrigåda, Manggåfa' Kådi & Paapa
Naek Flores, Taotao Mongmong, Sinahå-ña, Inapsan, Manggåfa' Kabesa, Sindu, Mannok
Alethea Bordallo, Taotao Hagå’ña, Håga'/Sumai, Inalåhan, Radio Barrigåda, Mangåffa' Kotla, Gollo, & Dero
roldy aguero ablao, Taotao Yo'ña, Manggåfa' Dogi'
DeAnn Thompson, Taotao Tomhom, Mongmong, & Hagå'ña, Manggåfa' Che' & Eging
Lourdez Puti'on Velasco, Taotao Chålan Pågo & Tutuhan, Manggåfa' Tin yan Kådi
Joseph Certeza, Taotao Yo'ña & Tutuhan, Manggåfa' Gumataotao
Hila'an Pali'i, Taotao Asan, Okso' Pali'i, & Hila'an, Manggåfa' Pali'i
Jeremy N.C. Cepeda, Taotao Sinahå-ña (Sinajana) Manggåfa' Alabådu, CHele’, Golo, Karabáo,
Dakota Camacho Taotao Tomhom, Mongmong, & Hagå'ña, Manggåfa' Che' & Eging

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87558281954

This presentation of MALI’E’ is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.