A Dance Between Persistence and Surrender: Behind the Creation Process of La Chispa

The creative process cannot be pressured. In my view, it's a dance between persistence and surrendering to the Universe. You must have faith that as long as you keep the vision in your heart, it will become reality at the right moment. Keep going, don't give up, continue nurturing the idea in your head and in your heart.

Every time I immerse myself in the creative process, I am humbled by this realization.

The Spark of an Idea

Cristian Javier Castaño, director of the Past Continuous Companies (Berlin, Dresden, Argentina), approached me in 2021 after a performance I did with the group Cantiere1234.

"I have an idea," he told me. "I'd like you to be part of it."

We met, and he shared his vision with me. Without hesitation, I replied, "Count me in." His plan was to create the piece "La Chispa" (The Spark).

One year later, Cristian contacted me again with the first sketch of the script. I loved it, and we agreed that he would continue his research while I conducted my own.

Divine Timing

Around this time, I was offered a #TakeHeart grant from Hellerau EZK & Fonds Darstellende Künste. The timing felt divine. For two months, I immersed myself in researching danzón, a traditional Cuban dance form, now deeply embedded in Mexican culture.

I wasn't interested in simply reproducing danzón—I wanted to explore its evolution and discover if I could find it, or something equivalent, in Dresden. And I did! I shared my discoveries with Cristian, and we continued our independent research and creation process.

The Funding Challenge

As our idea began to consolidate, we decided to apply for funding. This is where the journey gets interesting. In my memory, we had applied twice, but when I mentioned to Cristian that I was preparing this blog post, he corrected me: "It was 4 or 5 times!"

Despite multiple attempts, we didn't secure the funding. By then, we were approaching the end of 2024, and Cristian asked me, "What do you want to do?"

"Let's do it!" I replied. I knew that if we waited for positive funding, the idea would die in the waiting.

When You Decide, Resources Appear

When you make a decision, resources will come—sometimes not in the way you expect them (money). Shortly after our decision, I intuitively visited the Mexican Embassy's website. My mother has always encouraged me to connect with them as a Mexican artist living in Dresden.

To my surprise, there was an application to be sponsored by the Mexican Embassy—not with money, but with publicity for the shows. Their only condition was to offer the performance free of entry. We agreed and asked for exit donations instead of charging for entrance.

The Premiere

The day of the premiere arrived. Erle6, a new cultural and art center in Hechtviertel, was filled to capacity. The energy during the show was palpable—I could feel the focus and intensity in the air.

After the performance, I saw amazement in people's eyes. I received many beautiful comments, and numerous attendees approached us with ideas for where to present "La Chispa" again.

Investing in Your Dreams

Investing in your dreams pays great dividends. If you have a big idea in your mind, keep nurturing it. Share it with people with whom you'd love to collaborate, and it will happen.

All you have to do is never give up.

La Chispa was created by Cristian Javier Castaño and performed in Argentina by Past Continuous Argentina, and in Dresden by Past Continous Dresden, with the support of the Mexican Embassy in Germany.

If you want to learn more about Past Continous click here: https://www.pastcontinuous.de/

Follow Past Continous and La Chispa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastcontinuous_theater/

https://www.instagram.com/lachispa_dresden/