DVAA Member since 2021

Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi

About:

Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi is an interdisciplinary artist whose work combines their contemporary ballet and choreographic training with film, projection, and installation based art. Hagudeza considers topics of gender, race, and sexuality while confronting the social constructs built upon the foundation of colonization and white supremacy. Their work is informed by their experiences as a Trans Non-Binary Afro-Boricua; utilizing their journey within these identities to tell stories and spark conversations that are often unspoken.

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Hagudeza moved to Phildadelphia at a young age. They received a scholarship to attend Philadelphia Dance Theater where they had the opportunity to train within different techniques and perform works by various teachers and choreographers, whose works have been seen with the likes of Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Complexions, BalletX, and more. During these formative years, Hagudeza was able to expand their choreographic voice through creating original works as well as attending the National Choreography Intensive. They received the Jonathan Phelps Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Contemporary Dance from Regional Dance America. At the age of 18, Hagudeza received their first contract as a professional ballet dancer at Festival Ballet Providence. While here, they were able to perform in contemporary and classical ballets while also being commissioned to create and choreograph two original works. Shortly after, they then joined Cincinnati Ballet’s second company where they also performed in ballets and choreographed a work for the second company.

Hagudeza has returned to Philadelphia where they have been a guest artist with Opera Philadelphia, Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers, Drexel University, and Philadelphia Dance Theater. During this time they have created new works in collaboration with dancers from Philadelphia Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the Brooklyn Center for the Arts. They have also showcased their work in various ways through online channels, exhibition shows, and galleries. Most recently, they have received the Art Works Grant - a grant that highlights work designed to connect, build, and transform spaces and narratives that break down barriers through open access and inclusion, from the Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation for 2021 and 2022. Hagudeza plans to continue expanding upon their interdisciplinary artistic journey through film, projection mapping, installation art, and choreography.

Artist Statement:

The foundation of my interdisciplinary work is built upon the pillars of movement, formation, installation, and visualization. My choreographic training and background in contemporary ballet inform my definition of “movement”, but they also assist in the surpassing of the typical ideologies surrounding the word. I view movement and choreography not only relating to dance, but also as repetition and ritualistic behavior. This is showcased in my work through the intentionality of every element present. I saturate the senses through the visuals I create through film and projection mapping, coupled with the materials I use such as rope, chicken wire, fabric, found objects, and more. Feelings of confinement, transcendence, and resilience combined with a viewer’s own personal contemplations are brought to life through intention, imagery, motion, and motifs. I speak upon topics of culture, gender, race, sexuality, and the social constructs derived from colonization; transporting viewers to entirely different environments through my installation based work by invoking thoughts and feelings that are informed by my own experiences to tell the stories and spark conversations that are often left unspoken.