PORTLAND — Mayo Street Arts, FLOR and Print: A Bookstore will present Laura Sánchez’s “Welcome to Holland?!” at Mayo Street Arts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2
“Welcome to Holland!?” is a multidisciplinary performance that blends flamenco, spoken word, poetry, humor and film. A danced monologue that invites audiences into a deeply human journey of discovering who you are within a reality you never chose.
This 75-minute experience follows the story of an immigrant mother navigating her own “Holland!?”, a life-altering situation after the birth of her second child. Rather than focusing on what was lost, the piece celebrates what emerges — resilience, creativity, connection and the ability to find joy and gratitude in places we never imagined.
“Welcome to Holland!?” challenges preconceived ideas about identity, caregiving, disability, and belonging, inviting audiences to reflect, connect, and see the world — and one another — through a more inclusive and compassionate lens. The immersive theatrical experience reminds us that we all carry our own version of Holland, and that none of us are meant to move through these journeys alone.
Sánchez trained in Spanish Dance and Flamenco at the Conservatory of Madrid and in Expressive Therapies at Lesley University (U.S.), Sánchez is the creator of Expressive Flamenco©, a practice that fuses flamenco with authentic movement, art, and healing. Her research was published in 2021 in the American Journal of Dance Therapy, and she has shared her work at international conferences and workshops across Europe and the Americas.
She currently teaches at Harvard University and Lesley University, and tours the United States presenting her staged work.
Following the performance, audience members will be invited to stay for a book talk about Sánchez’s autobiography, “Tulip Skin,” with Sánchez facilitated by FLOR’s Executive and Artistic Director, Lindsey Bourassa. Copies of the English translation of her book will be available for purchase.
Mayo Street Arts is a welcoming community arts center in the heart of Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood. The organization’s building serves as a performance venue, gallery, and gathering space, and offers affordable studios and rehearsal space for artists. Mayo Street Arts’ programming embraces variety, with a particular focus on puppetry and folk music and dance.
Tickets to see Laura Sánchez’s “Welcome to Holland?!” at Mayo Street Arts are available for $25 in advance and $28 at the door. Pay-what-you-can options are available to support accessibility. Visitwww.mayostreetarts.org for ticket links and more information.