TOZTLI ABRIL DE DIOS
Interdisciplinary creator of collaborative projects involving contemporary puppetry language, movement and visual arts.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2015-2016 Certificate in narrative practices (Casa Tonalá, Mexico City).
2005-2008 Institut international de la marionnette (Charleville-Mézières, France).
2003-2005 Master’s degree in theater studies under supervision of georges banu (Paris III, Censier).
2002-2003 Foreign exchange student at national academy of dramatic arts (Paris, France).
1996-2000 Bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts, national academy of theatrical arts (Inba, Mexico City).
1990-1996 Performer of mexican dance, mexican dance academy (INBA, Mexico City).
PERSONAL PROJECTS THROUGH PUBLIC COMPETITIONS
2019-20 Recipient of a FONCA Performing Arts Creators annual grant for Ensayos sobre el anonimato (Essays on Anonymity).
2018 «Nous/nosotros». Collaborative installation in public space and urban interventions. Supported by the French Embassy in Mexico and Mexico City government’s PECDA arts fund.
2017 «Jonas: New Imaginaries For Travel». Collaborative installation in San Salvador, El Salvador. Part of IBERESCENA program Creation in Residence.
2015/16 Recipient of a FONCA Performing Arts Creators annual grant for Variaciones sobre la Ausencia (Variations on Absence).
2002-2003 Recipient of a FONCA grant for study abroad.
TEACHING PROJECTS AND FABRICATION OF PUPPETS
2021 Tutorial program Taking the stage produced by the British Council / La Teatrería / FITU/UNAM.
2020 Ek Anek. Developed play with Indian and Tibetan children in Dharamsala, India.
2018/19 «Cocolin, el chico pesadilla» (Cocolin the Nightmare Boy) produced by UNAM theater arts incubator.
«Los Cuervos no se peinan» (Ravens don’t comb their hair) by Maribel Carrasco and directed by Calafia Piña. Consulted on body work and handling of materials and objects.
2016/17 «Pelotes no quiere bañarse» (Pelotes Does Not Want to Bathe) produced by UNAM theater arts incubator.
2015 “Radio Nómada” (Nomad radio). Zaragüato Bus company contemporary circus production. Fabrication of dolls and consultancy on the language of contemporary puppetry.
FABRICATION OF MASKS AND FIGURES
2020 «Cartas sonoras para cuerpos celestes» (Sound letters for celestial bodies) By Isabel Toledo and Aristeo Mora. Desing and fabrication of the objects.
2018 «Maria Amatzontli» by Calafia Piña. Fabrication of masks.
2017 “Galileo, Tragicomedia Cósmica”. (Galileo: Cosmic Tragicomedy) La Maquina del Teatro performance directed by Juliana Faesler. Fabrication and consultancy on the making of dolls.
“Nada siempre, todo nunca”. (Nothing always, everything never) Performance by the Macramé Collective directed by Mariana Gándara. Fabrication of The Inhabitable Puppet, a puppet in the shape of a house.
“Golondrinas” (Swallows) Escolar Theater performance directed by Eva Lugo. Fabrication of direct animation figure.
2016 “Sapato busca Zapato” (Sapato Looks For a Shoe) La Maquina del Teatro performance directed by Clarissa Malheiros. Conception and fabrication of dolls.
“Sonetos para un cuerpo propio y ajeno”. (Sonnets For One’s Body And Another) Choreography by Franghia Ballesteros. Project supported by Mexico’s National College. Conception and fabrication of scenic design.
“Siete Mono, iya de Yanhuitlán”. » Project of the collective Lagartijas tiradas al sol. Fabrication of props and costumes throughout filming.
“La leyenda de Novecento”. Musical narration directed by Carlos Camarillo.
“La rata de la Merced” (The rat of La Merced) Fabrication of masks, costumes and props for the the short film by Daniel Ulacia and the children of Keren Tá grassroots arts group.
“Henequén” by La Maquina del Teatro directed by Conchi León and Juliana Faesler. Fabrication of dolls Doña Paulita, Niño Gui, Canek and Venado.
“El Pequeño Salvaje” (The little savage) by Clarissa Malheiros. Performance by La Maquina del Teatro
2015 “Pastorela en la Merced” with the Keren Tá group. Making of costumes and scenery.
“Proyecto YIVI” en Nochixtlán Oaxaca, in collaboration with the Lagartijas tiradas al sol collective.
“Dr Milagro”. Opera directed by Christian Gohmer. Fabrication of masks and dolls.
Participatory Arts Caravans in the northern sierra area of Puebla state with the CARPA collective.
THEATER ACTING CREDITS
2020 «Los danzantes del alba». (Dancers of the dawn) Directed by Jorge Vargas. Teatro Línea de Sombra.
2018/19 «Filo de Caballos» Directed by Jorge Vargas
Teatro línea de Sombra
«Algunas personas de a pie» (Some people on foot) Choreography by Katia Castañeda
2016/17 «Sapato busca Zapato» (Sapato looks for a shoe) by Clarissa Malheiros. La Máquina del Teatro.
La línea. (The line) Directed by Luis Rodríguez.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
2018-19 «Gelédé-Panafroamérica» Urban photoperformance in Mexico City and Sao Paulo. Presented thanks to the support of Sao Paulo’s city government and in Mexico City as part of the Festival “Escenica”.
2017 «Ta o’we…» Aparador Theater.
2015/16 “Ellos…” Performing arts adaptation of the project Territorios de la ausencia (Territory of Absence)
“Viento” (Wind) Inhabited installation for a glass case.
Taught workshops «Variaciones sobre la ausencia» (Variations on Absence) and «Amuletos Migratorios» (Migratory Amulets) as part of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th editions of Asalto Theater’s Festival de la Bestia.
2014 “Misceo” in the TFM festival (Theater For The End of The World) in Tamaulipas state, Mexico. Conducted lab on dance contact improvisation and contemporary puppetry.
2013 «Metus Causa» Inhabited installation. Arts residency in the TFM festival.
«del Bacalao…» (Of The Codfish) Poetic wandering in urban space in Brussels, Belgium.
SKILLS
French (fluent), Spanish (fluent) and English (conversational). Since 2017, the French Embassy in Mexico has supported «Body/Object(s)» workshops on circus arts and contemporary puppetry with collaborator Netty Radvanyi. This project led to the creation of the Ohtli International Artistic Agency, a platform for cultural exchange between continents.
CONTACT
FB Toztli Abril de Dios
toztli@gmail.com