Jahaira Fajardo and Angelica Medina dazzle audiences when dancing Bachata. They talk about falling in love on the dance floor and challenging heteronormativity in dance competitions. They’re performing for Fresh Meat Festival’s 20th anniversary.
The Fresh Meat Festival features trans and queer artists and Jahaira and Angelica are one of the opening acts. The Latin dance duo have won competitions dancing Bachata, an intimate partner-dance that comes from the Dominican Republic.
“I just felt like our bodies knew each other, from other lifetimes. It was a very deep dance. It was very intense.”Jahaira Fajardo
Angelica and Jahaira are creating more space on the dance floor for queer artists through In La’Kech, their dance academy based in Oakland. In this interview they talk about pushing for gender inclusivity in dance and falling in love on the dance floor.
Watch them perform a new routine this Friday, June 18th for opening night of the virtual Fresh Meat Festival.
