Volver weaves tradition, history, and humor to celebrate and facilitate wider understanding of Chicano identity.

Sponsored in part by the National Endowments for the Arts. VOLVER, a dance theatre work that reflects the Chicano identity and culture, is inspired by the real life of the Former Treasurer of the United States, Anna Cabral. 

LBV is delighted to welcome Ms. Anna Cabral as an honored guest at the VOLVER performances. As the U.S. Treasurer from 2005-2009, Ms. Cabral was the highest-ranking Latina in the Bush Administration and now serves as the Unit Chief for Strategic Communications in the External Relations Division of the Inter-American Development Bank.

VOLVER weaves tradition, history, and humor to celebrate and facilitate wider understanding of Chicano identity. The multilayered work will speak to issues including blending, dissonance, and harmony, both through the artistic techniques used and the cultural themes explored.

VOLVER is produced through the collaboration of Chicana choreographer Catherine Marie Davalos, Chicana writer Karen Mary Davalos and the Latin Ballet of Virginia’s Artistic Director, Ana Ines King. VOLVER’s choreography utilizes traditional dances and songs from Northern Mexico, as well as Catherine Marie Davalos’ contemporary style of dance.

CatherineMarie Davalos (Guest Artist) Ms. Davalos is a Chicana choreographer whose work emerges from her Mexican voice and constant rediscovery of identity. Her style, emphasizing breath and momentum, creates contemporary work that is rooted in her community. Ms. Davalos’ passion is to cross borders and delve into the coalescence and contradictions of being a Chicana and what she calls, a “Mexican American Princess.” Her choreography draws on the technique of Jose Limon, another noted Mexican-American artist. Davalos continues to serve the Latino community by making dances that speak from a different voice and move through a different lens. She has received many awards and distinctions for her excellent multicultural choreography. Ms. Davalos was nominated for the Dance Magazine as “Outstanding Choreographer”, 1994 and the Los Angeles, Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography, 1997.

Anna Escobedo Cabral is the Unit Chief for Strategic Communications in the External Relations Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Prior to that, Cabral served as the 42nd Treasurer of the United States from January 19, 2005 to January 20, 2009. She became the highest-ranking Latina in the Bush Administration after the resignation of Rosario Marin. A second-generation Mexican-American, Cabral's family had come to the United States from Mexico in the early 1900s. As the oldest of five children, she and her siblings at one time had to collect scrap metal and salvage old motor parts with their father that they would then sell to help the family survive. Her successes and achievements demonstrate her commitment and dedication to family, education and public service.

Linda Baumgardner (Lighting Designer) holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Design and Production from California Institute of the Arts and a B.A. in Performing Arts from Saint Mary's College. She has worked as a Lightings Designer, Production Manager, Stage Manager and Producer in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago. Her work is focused predominantly in Dance and Theatre but she also works in Music, Opera and Special Event Planning. With an undergraduate degree in the Performing Arts, she particularly enjoys working on projects that bring the arts together in true collaboration. She believes that the arts are an incredibly important component of education and is dedicated to bringing artistry to the educational field in any way she can: by creating designs for Dance Studios in the area; teaching budding choreographers how to light their own work; serving as Co-Chair of the San Francisco Chapter of the CalArts Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is currently a full-time faculty member of the Performing Arts Department at Saint Mary's College where she teaches courses in both Dance and Theatre, works as the Resident Lighting Designer for the Dance Company and is the Production Coordinator for the Performing Arts Department. She is the Developing Board Chair for the Ragged Wing Ensemble, a progressive theatre company in the Bay Area.