Meet Alfonso Abraham Cervera Jr

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alfonso Abraham Cervera Jr . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alfonso Abraham below.

Alfonso Abraham , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I’ll begin by sharing that where I am now is not where I began at all. I often reflect and wonder how I got here, how I found my “purpose,” and how I’m providing relevant contributions in my roles as a dance professor at The Ohio State University and as a practicing artist. My influences are rooted in both my biological family and my chosen family, all of whom have been instrumental in guiding me toward my purpose. I found my path by embracing an experimental queer choreographic dance approach that uniquely blends Ballet Folklorico with other dance forms and aesthetics, honoring my experience as a Mexican American hybrid practitioner. This journey was shaped by many vibrant dance artists in the field who inspired me to push boundaries and explore new forms of expression. The supportive community and the fusion of my cultural heritage and queer identity in my work have been pivotal in shaping my artistic purpose.

It’s important for me to share that although this question is asking solely about me, many of my findings and accomplishments are an extension of my dance family, Primera Generación Dance Collective, and Show Box LA. This collective, including Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, and Patricia Huerta, provides another form of expression through collective dance-making and curating. We strive to honor our communities, our allies, and our experiences, indulging in our craft of non-hierarchical dance-making and horizontal leadership. We curate inclusive spaces for other practicing artists to collaborate and thrive. I recognize that without this group of individuals, my experience in the field of dance and beyond would not be the same. I want to share my deep appreciation for them as individuals, for they have also influenced my purpose in both the dance field and academia.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I always position myself as an educator because I believe it’s important for students to understand where you come from and how your experiences have shaped your methods, ideas, and approach to community and art. I am transparent that my form of teaching and collective making stems from a very specific space of Folklorico dance and modern dance, which often don’t align and continually challenge the methodologies, aesthetics, and techniques inherent in these forms. It’s important for me to navigate improvisationally between these two worlds because it’s a vulnerable to share my current research of Poc-Chuc technique as an artist while still discovering what I want to do with the new form I am trying to create and where my body wants to go.

As a dance professor, my intention is to excite students in their own craft of becoming intelligent, critical dance makers and movers. What makes this journey special is developing authentic relationships as human beings navigating a world of art-making that continually asks our bodies, minds, and hearts to be vulnerable and to invent the new. I strive to create an environment where students feel empowered to explore and challenge their creative boundaries, encouraging them to think deeply about their work and its impact. By fostering a space that values individuality and innovation, I hope to inspire students to not only hone their technical skills but also to embrace their unique artistic voices, contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of dance with confidence and originality.

I am still discovering the possibilities of developing my personal choreographic approach and technique, which I call Poc-Chuc, as I strive to avoid recreating the same dance pieces or remaining stagnant in my dance-making. Recently, I have been exploring more solo works to better understand myself as a hybrid dance maker and queer Latine mover. It has been amazing to share my solo work at the Breaking Ground Dance Festival in Arizona, SF Facts in San Francisco, and Keshet in New Mexico, with more opportunities on the horizon.

In addition, I am excited to share that I have been awarded a $10,000 Greater Columbus Arts Grant to create a new collaborative work titled Café Con Pan. This experimental dance project seeks to archive the stories of queer Mexican Ballet Folklorico maestros who immigrated to Los Angeles, CA, and to Columbus, OH. Café Con Pan aims to collaborate with hybrid movers and other artists to imagine the futurism of Folklorico through a queer lens, exploring how we fit into the ethos of sustaining cultural traditions while acknowledging the persistent relevance of racism, homophobia, and other social issues within the folk community. By honoring queer Folklorico teachers, this project provides an opportunity to celebrate those often invisibilized and reimagine a world that nurtures Queer Folkloric Joy. Facilitated by me, this work will bring together different generational teachers and practitioners to understand how radical queerness has been used as a survival mechanism. Collaborating with sound designers and media designers, we will build a futuristic Mexican American landscape that fosters conversations about homophobia, machismo, and the experience of being a first-generation or immigrant queer Mexican American folkloric dancer straddling tradition and contemporary values.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, appreciation, community, and patience have been profoundly impactful in my journey as a choreographic dance artist. Appreciation has been essential in recognizing the value of every experience, whether it’s a triumph or a setback. This is still an ongoing practice for me because I’m so conditioned to create and perform constantly that I sometimes forget to appreciate those around me and the spaces I’ve been able to enter. By appreciating the diversity of influences and the richness of different dance traditions, I’ve been able to blend Folklorico and modern dance into something uniquely mine. I’m still taking time to craft this idea, as there is so much information from various regional dances, practices, historical influences, and knowledge that I want to absorb and honor in my work. Community has provided a support system, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. The collaborative nature of dance, especially within collectives like Primera Generación Dance Collective and Show Box LA, has shown me the strength and creativity that emerge from working together. I also thank many of my other colleagues who have invited me to share and create dance works with my personal aesthetic and choreographic approach, as they are still part of my community and family. Patience has taught me to trust the process, allowing ideas and techniques to mature organically without rushing toward immediate results. Patience in the workforce is also crucial, as I truly believe that what is meant for you will come in time.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to actively cultivate these three qualities. To develop appreciation, take time to reflect on and celebrate small victories and learn from every experience. Engage deeply with different dance forms and cultures, and recognize the value they bring to your growth. Building community is about forming genuine connections—seek out mentors, collaborate with peers, and contribute to your dance community. These relationships will sustain you and push your artistry forward. Lastly, practice patience by embracing the journey and understanding that mastery takes time. Allow yourself the space to experiment, fail, and grow. Progress may be slow, but it’s the depth of your development that truly counts. By nurturing appreciation, community, and patience, you’ll create a strong foundation for a fulfilling and impactful dance career.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am eager to collaborate with photographers and costume designers who share a vision of reimagining Mexican Folklorico costuming through a futurist and queer lens. My goal is to blend the rich heritage of traditional attire with contemporary queer aesthetics, creating a dialogue that honors the past while embracing the complexities of today’s social landscape. I am passionate about working together to craft designs that celebrate diversity and challenge conventional norms, pushing the boundaries of folklorico in ways that are both respectful and revolutionary. By merging historical elements with innovative concepts, I hope to co-create works that not only pay homage to tradition but also resonate powerfully in the modern world. Let’s explore how we can transform and elevate Mexican Folklorico costuming into a vibrant expression of our shared future. Please reach out to me 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://acerv002.wixsite.com/alfonsocerveradance
• Instagram: fonzy110990

Image Credits

Steve Rosa

Photos by John Landry
Top5ive Photography
@top5ivephoto