I AM WOMB premiered at the University of Maryland Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies 2020 Second Season Concert

Dancers: Angeline Mendez, Tochi Korie, Joelle Everett, Paetyn Lewis, Tiffany Ospino, Greta Cover

Model: Taylor Spence

Violinist: Camille Jones

Sound: Act Up by City Girls, WTP by Teyana Taylor featuring K.T.S.E, JACKBOYS by JACKBOYS, BLOOD. By Kendrick Lamar, Violinist original composition Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone, Bow Down (Homecoming Live) by Beyoncé

Stage Manager: Molly Klezer

Costume Designer: Jasmine Mitchell

Lighting Designer: Malory Hartman

I AM WOMB explored how colored female bodies are crafted and presented in the eyes of institutions to be seen as hypersexual creatures. She wanted to challenge the high levels of appropriation as opposed to appreciation, while also diving into how this impacts women’s relationships between one another. Gabriela was driven by this key question: How can we reclaim the power in our femininity? She was inspired by powerful images and mentors of women of color that she grew up around from Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone to Beyonce and Lil Kim to Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, Eve and City Girls. Her movement quality was influenced by her training in hip hop and African movement combined with her modern and contemporary dance background.