ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Anastasio Project is a multidisciplinary, roving public performance work that kickstarts an investigation of racial profiling, state brutality, and border violence using the story of Anastasio Hernandez-Rojas as a point of departure. Anastasio Hernandez-Rojas was a Mexican national who was detained at the US-Mexico border in May 2010, and subsequently killed by a dozen border patrol agents. To this day, none of the border patrol agents have been held accountable.
By performing the stories of Hernandez-Rojas and others, we invoke memories of shared, deep-rooted pain of historic and ongoing state-sanctioned injustices and violence that wrack our Brown and Black communities. We intend to inspire dialogue, unity, solidarity, and community action.
The Anastasio Project is a collaboration with Eastside Arts Alliance.
“Intent on public dialogue, Kajiyama and Navarrete have sidestepped the traditional stage for the streets. In their push to perform along the complex environment of International Boulevard in East Oakland, the team hopes not only to reflect issues already familiar to the community, but to reinvigorate conversation in a place where exclusive models of contemporary performance run the risk of leaving residents cold.”
This project is made possible by The MAP Fund, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; William & Flora Hewlett Foundation; City of Oakland Cultural Funding; The Kenneth Rainin Foundation; The East Bay Community Foundation's East Bay Fund for Artists; The Open Circle Foundation; the Center for Cultural Innovation Investing in Artists Grant; EastSide Arts Alliance; Theatre Bay Area’s CA$H Grant; the Zellerbach Family Foundation; the Akonadi Foundation; the Della Davidson Prize; the California Arts Council Creating Places of Vitality Grant, The Triangle Lab, and many generous individual donors.
Conceived & Directed by Navarrete x Kajiyama Dance Theater (NAKA): José Navarrete & Debby Kajiyama
Performed at Fresh Festival, Joe Goode Annex, San Francisco (2015), United States of Asian America Festival, SOMArts Cultural Center, SF (2015), ODC Theater, SF (2014)
Produced by NAKA and Susanne Takehara / EastSide Arts Alliance
Created in collaboration with performers: K.E.V, Da’Juan Carter-Woodard, Simone Nalls, Patricia Barajas, José Navarrete, Guisela Mishel Ramos, Tane Madrigal, Hector Torres, Michael Turner, Jr., Leslie Lopez
Stories, poetry, and song: Michael Turner, Jr., Guisela Mishel Ramos, Tane Madrigal, Hector Torres, K.E.V., Da’Juan Carter-Woodard, Ghetto Prophet (GP), Maria Puga, Bertha Gutierrez, Debby Kajiyama
Music: David Molina
Animation & Documentary Film: Steven Sanchez
Multimedia & Isadora programming: Ian Winters
Trike design, construction and painting: Ian Winters, Agustín Barajas, and Kallan Nishimoto
Lighting Design: José Maria Francos & Ian Winters
Racial Equity Consultant: Tammy Johnson
Press
NAKA Dance Theater Investigates Violence and State Brutality on the Streets of Oakland
by Marco Villalobos, KQED Arts Blog, September 2014
A Roving Elegy by Marvin K. White, In Dance, September 2014
Violence Without Borders by Zaineb Mohammed, East Bay Express, August 2014