The Disappearing Act

The Disappearing Act is Yinka Esi Graves’ first solo creation. Drawing on her experience as an Afro-Caribbean flamenco dancer, the artist explores themes of invisibility, absence, and representation. On stage, the figure of La Lala invites audiences into an experience in which camouflage and disappearance become acts of resistance.

Blending dance, live music, text, and live video, the performance unfolds as an experimental flamenco work inspired by the tradition of the Ghanaian Concert Party. It features guitarist Raúl Cantizano, drummer Donna Thompson, and singer Antonia Fernández, whose contributions shape an artistic language that moves between flamenco, jazz, hip hop, and improvisation.

Developed through artistic residencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, and France, the work premiered at the 2023 Festival Flamenco de Nîmes and has since been presented at leading festivals and venues including the GREC Festival Barcelona, the Festival d’Avignon, Tanz im August in Berlin, and Chaillot – Théâtre National de la Danse in Paris. In 2024, it was selected by critic Claire Bishop as one of the ten best performances of the year for Artforum.