Where my Joy Resists

The human experience carries moments of beauty and joy, while also bringing pain and suffering.
Some events trigger persistent introspection, leading to a disconnection from the core dimensions of
reality, body, mind, and soul, or “wholeness,” as defined in this research project.
When wholeness is fragmented, mental and emotional suffering often follow. But what happens when
individuals lack access to psychological or science-based methods to restore a sense of wholeness? In
such moments of urgent need, those of us who suffer often turn to alternative practices—intuitive and
deeply human responses that may mark the first step toward healing.
In August 2024, I conducted an experimental movement workshop in a remote area of the coast of
Mexico to investigate how the intentional creation of space might facilitate spiritual experiences and
support healing processes. The workshop drew on theories such as neuroarchitecture, logotherapy, and
spirituality, as well as concepts of sacredness and therapeutic landscapes, all centered on the idea of
creating environments that foster comfort and joy.
This same movement workshop also revealed the idea of joy as a political strategy. In regions like
Mexico and Latin America—where social, economic, and political challenges are pervasive—people
continue to find ways to live with joy and pleasure. This resilience is deeply embedded in cultural
practices, particularly in music and dance traditions. I found a powerful expression of this connection
in the Latin American genre of cumbia, where collective celebration becomes both an act of resistance
and a source of healing.
“Donde mi alegría resiste / Where My Joy Resists” is a dance performance that explores the
creation of healing spaces through the mindful arrangement and rearrangement of elements already
present in the environment. This practice invites a spiritual and reflective experience, aiming to
restore a sense of wholeness. Layered with the rhythms of the cumbia genre, the performance carries
wholeness into a trance-like state, one where only joy and pleasure are welcomed.