Over the Bridge Arts will launch its new season with a documentary screening on Wednesday at the Latino Cultural Center. The collective will screen the documentary Out From the Wings that centers on queer-identifying professional dancers.
The film is directed by dance educator Michael Montoya who interviewed dancers about their experience within the industry. Montoya researched the film’s topics of gender and sexual identity stemming from his own personal experiences.
As a transgender dancer, Montoya has performed in both male and female presenting roles. Today, his style lends itself to exploring and teaching masculine, feminine and nonbinary aspects of dance and movement.
In the film, Montoya and LGBTQ+ dancers discuss the expectations and rules of the industry regarding their own identities and the subsequent effect of that.