Today we’d like to introduce you to Cami Aponte.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Ever since I was young, I’ve had a passion for movement. I tried gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading, and hip hop – but I’d never felt the satisfaction of true flow until I discovered hoopdance in 2014. Even though I’ve only been hooping for four years, it’s completely changed my life. I fell in love not just with the art of hoopdance, but with the community and music scene surrounding and fostering it. Four years later, I’ve taken my passion for hoopdance to new levels by founding my own troupe, building a community based around flow-friendly benefit events, and getting involved with regional flow festivals. Currently I’m in a stage where I’m working on expanding my flow abilities, so I’ve been picking up other flow props like fans, palm torches, levi wand, and poi. I’m excited to practice new props all summer and learn new things at New England Flow Fest this August.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a dancer and flow performer, but primarily a hoop dancer. My inspiration comes from the amazing community that surrounds me. Nothing makes me happier than bringing my talented friends together to share art, ideas, and memories. When I perform, my goal is to inspire others to dance, too; to make the women around me feel sexy and powerful; and to enhance the experiences of those around me. I also thoroughly enjoy making visual art with my hooping – I’ve done a variety of video and photoshoots with local artists and friends. My favorite would probably be the hot springs photoshoot I did with my best friend Sarah Tamburelli.
When I perform, musicality is my priority. Nothing feels better than flowing to a song I know every single beat to. I love to include dynamic speeds in my flow, as well as incorporate inversions and acrobatic moves I still know from my gymnastics and cheerleading days. I also occasionally add a latinx flare to my flow, especially when I’m gogo dancing. Being Puerto Rican, I grew up learning that dance is a social, cultural activity. Because of that, I also love to interact with spectators, mostly with eye contact and the occasional flirty move.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Never forget that your success is not only a product of your own doing, but a result of a stronger community force. Always show gratitude to those who inspire and support you. Use your art and your passion to find creative ways to give back to the community. Empower, uplift, and appreciate those others who share your same passion and drive – no matter how early in their journey they are. Keep it simple, know your worth, and don’t let anyone try to tear down what you’ve built. Artists, together, are always greater than the sum of their parts.
Most importantly, discouragement and disappointment are inevitable. There will be days (or even weeks or months) where you feel creatively drained. There will be disappointing gigs. You will find yourself comparing yourself to experts and feeling unworthy. There will be moments where it seems everything you’ve worked toward building is falling apart. You’re not. It’s not. The most powerful art is made when artists bounce back from rock bottom. Sometime you need to have everything taken away to understand that art will always be there for you.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I currently run two projects – Saturn is my flow performance alias, and Boston Flow is the collective I founded. Both can be found on Instagram and Facebook at @saturnspins and @bstnflow. The best way to experience and support either project is to attend a Boston Flow event! We host workshops, spinjams, benefit events, and music shows at local venues – many for good causes. I usually perform at these events along with my other Boston Flow troupe members, Kiki Hernandez and Alicia Sanchez, and other local flow performers we recruit. I’ll also be teaching at New England Flow Festival, an annual movement workshop festival in New Hampshire that I’ve been helping organize this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: facebook.com/bstnflow
- Email: saturnperformingarts@gmail.com
- Instagram: @bstnflow
- Facebook: facebook.com/saturnspins
- Other: instagram.com/saturnspins
Image Credit:
Bruce Kofi, Sarah Tamburelli, Odra William
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