“I’m looking forward to working with Shout because I will be able to bring joy, new ideas, inspiration and representation to their audience. I will be able to create a space for activism and celebration through dance and community, bringing to Shout a part of my soul."
Photo @birminghamfestival23
We’re thrilled to welcome Eric into the Shout team from November, where he’ll be working on producing Catwalk Extravaganza’s return for 2025. Eric will also be running workshops for the community, developing partnerships and building artists, participants and audiences in Birmingham.
Eric is a Venezuelan choreographer, dance performer, producer and activist. For 15 years, he has been a pioneer in his country in Waacking and Voguing, dance styles belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community since the 70s.
His events, choreographies, workshops and performances explore hip-hop, Waacking and the Voguing style as a way to advocate for LGBTIQ+ community. His work has also stood out for doing Queer activism within the hip-hop culture in his country and the UK.
Eric has worked in conjunction with the British Council Venezuela for 5 years creating activities, workshops and activism for Venezuelan youth regarding dance and the LGBTQIA+ community. Also representing the British Council Venezuela in London, for special dance training, and in Belfast for Outburst Queer Arts Festival. Additionally, Eric was part of the founders of the first and only street dance company in Latin America, thus creating a stable and legally recognized job for young street dancers of the present and the future.
Photo @snipedbykim
In 2022, he founded Queer-Side, a community interest company created in Birmingham, UK, providing free events, workshops, opportunities, performances and activism to the LGBTQIA+ community, with the purpose of creating safe spaces, visibility, entertainment and growth for all.
Photo @ivantruewizard
Queer-Side aims to transform non-conventional spaces into performance areas that are free to access for the community.
