Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai:

In this heartfelt reading, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai breathes life into the powerful, poignant pages of The Mountains Sing. Her storytelling captures the resilience of the Vietnamese people, illustrating the toll of war while offering a message of hope, survival, and kindness.

Feature Inspiring Woman in the Arts: María Berrío

María Berrío is a Colombian-born artist who now resides in Brooklyn, NY. Her work is a stunning blend of her South American heritage and contemporary themes, focusing on issues such as migration, identity, and resilience. This year, María's work was featured in a Spotlight series at The FLAG Art Foundation, where she introduced her new piece Act II, Scene 2: All Gods are Carnivorous. This series highlighted her ability to merge visual art with powerful narratives. María’s art is created using delicate Japanese paper, giving her pieces a unique texture that draws viewers into the intricate stories she weaves.

Fun Fact: María’s 2023 solo exhibition The Children’s Crusade at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston was a critical success, further establishing her as a leading figure in contemporary art. The exhibition focused on themes of migration and displacement, using powerful visual narratives to explore the impact of these experiences on children and communities.

Feature Inspiring Woman in the Arts: Amina Figarova

Amina Figarova is an acclaimed jazz artist who seamlessly blends jazz with the influences of her Azerbaijani roots. Based in New York City, her music is a true fusion of tradition and innovation. Her intricate compositions and lyrical melodies draw listeners into a world filled with emotion, life experiences, and cultural diversity. Amina has performed at prestigious jazz festivals worldwide, solidifying her as a true force in contemporary music. Her most recent work, Suite For Africa, brings attention to global issues through music, such as child trafficking and poverty.

In addition to her work as a performer, Amina is a dedicated educator, sharing her love for jazz through masterclasses and workshops, inspiring the next generation of musicians. Her powerful combination of creativity and advocacy is what sets her apart as a trailblazer in the arts.

Fun Fact: Amina's Suite For Africa is featured in the forthcoming docuseries Let The Children Sing: Forgotten Children. This series highlights the struggles of orphaned and at-risk children worldwide, using music to raise awareness about poverty and child trafficking.

Feature Inspiring Woman in the Arts:

La Ribot

La Ribot, born María Ribot Manzano, is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and visual artist from Spain. Known for her innovative approach to contemporary dance, La Ribot blends choreography with visual art, performance, and historical narratives to create thought-provoking and boundary-pushing work. Her pieces often incorporate elements of sculpture, photography, and video, challenging traditional ideas of dance and inviting the audience to explore the relationships between the body, movement, and space.

As of 2024, La Ribot has been working on Juana ficción, a multidisciplinary performance that reimagines the life of Queen Juana I of Castile, a historical figure remembered for her tragic life and long imprisonment. Juana ficción, showcased at the La Bâtie Festival in Geneva at the beginning of September, blends choreography and music, featuring a polyphonic choir and seven soloists. This performance is yet another example of La Ribot’s ability to merge visual art with historical themes, continuing her legacy of creating relevant and impactful works.

Recent Recognition:

• In 2020, La Ribot was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale of Dance, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to contemporary dance.

• La Ribot continues to perform and innovate internationally, with recent highlights including her presentation at the Museo del Prado in 2023 as part of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union.