Environmental activism
“Only mass social movements can save us now. If that happens, well, it changes everything.”
-Naomi Klein
What is “TrashBata”?
“TrashBata” is a dance theater performance that speaks to the environmental problem of plastic. The “bata de cola” is a long train skirt traditionally used by the female flamenco dancer in Spanish dance. In this piece, instead of the usual skirt made out of lively ruffles, bright colors or polka dots, a bata made out of trash follows the dancer with every movement. Will we ever escape plastic bottles, plastic bags, six-pack rings, plastic utensils, and other permutations of this toxic material that we humans blindly over-manufacture and overuse?
MISSION
The mission of “TrashBata” is to use multi-media performance art to think about the problem of plastic in a new way. The “bata de cola” is a long train skirt traditionally used by the female flamenco dancer in flamenco dance. In this piece, instead of the usual skirt made out of lively ruffles, bright colors or polka dots, a bata made out of trash follows the dancer with every movement. Will we ever escape plastic bottles, plastic bags, six-pack rings, plastic utensils, and other permutations of this toxic material that we humans blindly over-manufacture and overuse?
because Art plays a vital role in bringing about social action
Visit the TrashBata YouTube channel
Collaborations
New York City master artist, Clemente Ettrick and Bárbara Martínez collaborate to bring a new dimension to TrashBata and its new iterations. TrashBata performances are presented with alongside exhibition of Mr. Ettrick’s visual interpretations of the essence of this project. Visit Clemente’s Palette Virtual Gallery to see the works that are for sale.
“Madre Agua” was a collaboration between TrashBata and Afro-Cuban dancer/musician Goussy Célestin in the Queensboro Dance Festival held on July 15, 2022. In it, Bárbara and Goussy used movement and interactive sound-making with the audience in this free “happening” in Travers Park in Jackson Heights, Queens.
IMAGERY in “trashbata”
PERFORMANCES
PAST PERFORMANCES
Aug 16, 2024
The Baha'i center in Valley Stream, NY
Sept 12, 2024 & Sept 15, 2025
Oct 12, 2024
April 22, 2023
August 7, 2022
Gardiner Library, Gardiner, NY
July 8, 2022
October 30, 2021
TrashBata was launched in 2020 with a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and was first performed via livestream on October 30, 2021 at the studios of Creative Cultural Center, NYC thanks to a grant from New York Foundation for the Arts City Artist Corps.
April 22, 2023 was a day of art and culture at Sparkle on Stage on the Nautical Mile in Freeport, Long Island. This was a first-time collaboration with painter Clemente Ettrick and Operation SPLASH.
Email barbaritaole@gmail.com if you are interested in bringing this program to your school, center or organization.
LEARN MORE
Traditional dance with a ”bata de cola” is an intense play between the dancer and that which weighs her down, chases her and continually reappears in a never-ending love/hate dynamic. The art of dancing with the “bata de cola” is like a bullfight with oneself, an intense kind of internal struggle. Choreography, music and poetry in this piece explore the themes of cause/effect, vision/blindness, freedom/restraint.
Further development of “TrashBata” has grown to include audience participation, inviting the audience to join the experience with their voices, evoking the sounds of water and highlighting words that embody a message of inspiration. The audience experiences a deep kind of listening, a feeling of group momentum and the power of collective intention.
This project has a symbiotic relationship with the photography of the visionary, Alejandro Durán, as well as other photographers and videographers. His thought-provoking photographs for us to grapple with the difficult question about the impact we have on our world.
THANK YOU
TrashBata would not be possible without the collaboration of Sally Lesser (bata de cola design), Linda Griggs (trash bata design), Alfredo Lagos (“Escrito en el Agua” composition), Engin Gunaydin (drum solo/sound mixing), photographers Alejandro Durán, Justin Hofman and Noel Guevara and grants from LMCC, NYFA, NYC Cultural Affairs.
Make a donation
Zelle (barbaritaole@gmail.com)
Your support goes toward things like transportation, outreach and artist fees and is immensely appreciated!