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Alfonso Cervera
Meet
Alfonso Cervera is a first-generation queer Mexican American artist, choreographer, and educator born in San Bernardino, California, and currently based between Los Angeles, CA, and Columbus, OH. Raised by Mexican immigrant parents, including a mother with a visual impairment, Alfonso's work is deeply rooted in social change, centering Mexican American identity, queer representation, and the evolution of folklorico dance traditions.
Alfonso serves as a dance professor at The Ohio State University, where he inspires students with innovative approaches to choreography, drawing from contemporary influences and hybrid practices. He is the creator of the Poc-Chuc technique, a groundbreaking choreographic and physical practice that fuses Mexican Ballet Folklorico aesthetics with Modern dance. This technique explores queer hybrid bodies, addressing the need for Latine dance pedagogy and advancing the broader dance ecosystem by challenging traditional hierarchies in contemporary dance.
Cervera’s research is now fostering dialogue with disabilities, specifically focusing on visual impairments. His latest work, RP, explores the intersections of Retinitis Pigmentosa—a visual impairment—with his mother’s lived experiences, reflecting on the profound effects it has on her, himself, and the concept of living in the liminal space between seeing and not seeing. Through this deeply personal lens, Alfonso archives his family’s narratives, bridging the intimate and universal in his work.
In addition to his choreographic and academic endeavors, Alfonso works with Show Box LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering collaborative projects and opportunities for marginalized communities and artists. Operating within a non-hierarchical framework, Show Box LA supports the development of innovative dance works that challenge conventions and amplify underrepresented voices within the Los Angeles dance scene and beyond. Alfonso's involvement reflects his commitment to equity and the creation of inclusive platforms for artistic exploration.
As a choreographer and performer, Alfonso's artistry thrives at the intersection of Mexican Ballet Folklorico and Modern dance, prioritizing adaptability and collective creation. He challenges conventional norms of folklorico, reimagining the tradition through community-driven storytelling and radical performances. His projects have been showcased nationally, including collaborations with Primera Generación Dance and Café Con Pan.
Alfonso has been awarded grants from the Columbus Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Artist Trust, and other organizations, enabling him to expand and share his collaborative work. Currently, Cervera is engaged in multiple projects with Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, Paige Cunningham, Elliot Emadian, and Primera Generación Dance Collective, continuing to push boundaries and reimagine the future of dance.