Esther Casterá: Redefining Dance Across Borders

Esther Casterá: Redefining Dance Across Borders Aspiring Spanish choreographer Esther Casterá seizes the opportunity to expand her reach beyond Spain, aiming to establish her diverse creativity in Artistic Direction. With "Can you feel it?"—a live dance performance in Madrid, inviting the audiences to experience dance as a unifying force and cultural connection.

Key Details

Venue: La Nave Studio

Filming: February 11, 2024.

Director and Choreographer: Esther Casterá

Camera Editor: blabelcompany

Graphic Designer: Esther Casterá

Photographer (red background): Sandra Pomares.

Reviewer: unique tay

Aspiring international choreographer Esther leverages her vision to transform how audiences perceive dance, highlighting its transformative and empowering nature. Her work bridges cultural divides, underscoring her commitment to innovation. In her live performance "Can You Feel It?" in Madrid, Esther unites the dance community, showcasing her passion for House dance. Her innovative approach blends styles like waacking and Jazz Funk, aiming to connect with a broader audience and redefine dance boundaries. Created for the "Rico Showcase" at the Guetto Club in Madrid on December 10, 2023, the piece brought together a significant portion of Madrid's dance community, where Esther was invited as a choreographer.

The choreography Esther aims to engage a younger audience, sharing her aspirations and industry goals in our exclusive interview. To fully realise her vision, Esther sought to transform the original piece into a dance video, selecting "LA NAVE STUDIO" in Leganés as the perfect space. Set in a retro warehouse, Esther skillfully captures the dancers from all angles, reflecting their essence and connection with both performers and the audience.

We invite you to explore more about Esther's future aspirations and artistic goals in the dance industry in our exclusive interview.

Tell us more about your current creative vision, Esther. What do you enjoy most about creating dance?

My dance is a reflection of my life experiences, constantly transforming and evolving with me. I began my professional dance journey at 18, navigating the challenges of balancing art, work, and the industry. I've trained in various styles like House, Heels, Waacking, Locking, Jazz Funk, and Contemporary, always seeking to understand the cultural roots of each style. Respecting these traditions allows me to create with integrity while adding my unique perspective.

Photo of Esther Casterá by Sandra Pomares.

Growing up in a small town in Valencia with limited dance training, I moved to Valencia at 18 to professionalise my skills and discover my identity. Alongside my dance career, I pursued a degree in Design and Creative Technologies, which led me to explore artistic direction, merging dance with design. I see dance as a powerful communication tool. Initially, I worked in the commercial sector, collaborating with singers and in music videos. However, I felt compelled to find artistic purpose and provoke emotions in audiences, leading me to create my dance pieces. I now focus on House dance, participating in events and battles, and connecting with others who share my passion for House music and culture. Dance defines me, reflecting my expansive vision of art.

How do you feel your creative dance work will impact a younger audience?

Social media consumption is driving us toward immediacy and superficiality. Younger generations are accustomed to quick visual content, often without deeper analysis or reflection. As creators, this challenges us to frequently post on social media, sometimes at the expense of creativity, leading to homogenised content. I strive to resist these impulses, ensuring my dance transcends mere aesthetics or trends. I believe that if young people remain curious about the cultural roots of dance and encounter creations that inspire them to explore further, the dance community will continue to thrive.

What are your plans and visions over the next 12 months?

This year has been full of learning and hard work. I have exciting projects ahead. In September 2024, I'll attend an intensive House dance weekend in Porto with colleagues from the Madrid House dance community. I'm eager to learn from new people and learn from icons like Kapela and Frankie J. In the coming months, I'll work with a renowned Spanish artist on a project culminating in two sold-out concerts at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. I've long wanted to join this team, as the choreographer's approach to contemporary stage composition deeply resonates with me. After this, I'll focus on my creations and hope to return to London for training. I'm aiming for a Global Talent Visa to pursue opportunities in the United Kingdom (UK). A nation, I admire from afar, providing accessible and expansion opportunities within the Arts and Culture sector, where dance is forever thriving.

The dance writer, copyeditor and reviewer

Tamar also known as unique tay, is a dynamic creative entrepreneur specialising in dance writing through blogging, copyediting, podcast hosting, and digital newsletters, with a strong passion for community dance engagement. Now a successful finalist for the Creative Arts of the Year Award 2024 and highly commended for the Outstanding Contributions to Children and Young People Award 2024. This platform, unique tay, has become the premier destination for motivating and supporting creative endeavours. Aiming to inspire and influence emerging creatives to prioritise both personal and professional growth.

The platform fosters a non-judgmental space for diverse voices within the sector. With over a decade of experience in the dance industry, unique tay has cultivated a deep commitment to community dance, dance development and creative project management. Based in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, the founder Tamar has collaborated on national and international dance projects, engaging with a wide array of dance enthusiasts, including companies, arts organisations, and independent artists. Collaborations include work with One Dance UK, Diagonal Dance, Fabric (DanceXchange), and many others.

Spanning across the Atlantic to embark on cultural exchanges in Senegal, Italy, Jamaica, and Southeast Asia. A successful Prince’s Trust Enterprise participant since 2018, the founder finds joy and passion in cultural diversity and elevating global majority voices through dance.

Learn more

Thank you for your curiosity; uniquetay.com.