Galaw Morena: Anti-Colourism Talk & Dance Workshop

Gather with us at Magenta House on Saturday 16 August to celebrate Brown joy and liberation with Filipina performing artist Ahlex Leyva.
Held as part of Filipino National Language Month, Galaw Morena: An Anti-Colourism Talk & Dance Workshop will offer somatic tools for Brown empowerment through body-centred education and movement.

The word 'galaw’ means 'move / movement in Tagalog, while ‘morena’ is used to describe 'Brown-skinned girls.' Ahlex established Galaw Morena as an anti-colourism movement in the Philippines to provide a safe and empowering space for people of colour to connect and build communities.

All are welcome at this event including people belonging to diaspora, migrant, LGBTQI, PwD and other intersectional communities, as well as allies.

What to expect from this interactive event:

🌸 Artist talk by Ahlex exploring how anti-colourism movements inspire her practice
🌸 Social dancing and movement jam with Ahlex exploring Brown sensuality and power
🌸 Filipino merienda and refreshments by Magenta House
🌸 Complementary Galaw Morena T-shirts (made by Filipino designer Made by J9 and produced by Reggae Rockers)
🌸 Readings from Magenta House Library on precolonial Filipino history and politics, cultural preservation, and anti-racism methodologies.

No professional dancing skills or prep is required—simply show up with an open heart and curiosity to move towards collective strength.

Some of the books we'll be exploring:

Schedule

Cost: Pay What You Can: $40-$60 / Free for First Nations Mob

Notes: Each ticket admission will include an artist talk, dance & movement workshop, Library access, and snacks & refreshments, plus complementary GM T-shirts. Other merchandise available for sale on the day. For general enquiries or access info, please contact Mariam at Magenta House on housekeeper@magentahouse.com or via Instagram @magentahouse.redfern

Positioned within Brown context, a person of colour is "usually considered someone who does not self-identify as White and has ancestral connections to African, Asian, Latinx, Arab and Pasifika communities. Some Black and Indigenous people also self-identify as People of Colour. Although this term can sometimes be contested for its all-encompassing quality, it's important to acknowledge the experience of racial marginalisation on this Australian continent." Source: Arts House’s Pro-Equity Glossary.

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About Ahlex Levya
Ahlex Levya is a Filipina performing artist now based in Sydney. She’s a film and stage actress, a dancer and choreographer, a pole and aerial artist, a burlesque performer, a nude art model and an anti-colorism advocate. Galaw Morena is a self-project founded by Ahlex Leyva and Ayn Bernos of Morena The Label in 2019. Their vision is to create a social gathering, a safe space and movement exploration for the Filipinos. It promotes self love, discovery and empowerment. 

About Magenta House
Based inside a re-envisioned home in Gadigal/Sydney, Australia, Magenta House is a gathering and knowledge-sharing space that digests the synergy between art, food, culture and social magick. We look at the ways that creative hospitality, co-learning and intimate assemblies can embolden our ways of navigating and caring for the wider world together. In this spirit, we self-organise and collaborate with kindreds to create workshops, supper clubs, communal meals, test kitchens, dialogues, soirées, library sessions, and more. We also run an online shop supporting social ventures and independent artisans across Asia and Australia. Founded in April 2023, Magenta House is a synergetic platform for ideas and conversations to ferment.