Hispanic Heritage Month - Spotlight on Cami Boni
September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month! We’re back with another interview with one of our Hispanic company members. This interview is with Cami Boni, who plays the Mech Bird in The Nightingale.
Tell us about your family heritage.
I was born and raised in the desert of Mexico where people tend to say it’s an arid place for culture. Both of my parents come from Puebla and Mexico City, and their parents from the sierras of those places. When I was growing up, my mom made sure my sisters and I understood where we came from and to always feel proud about it. Traditional dishes and clothing, and admiring LATINX artists and aerialists has always been part of my personal preference. ¡Gracias mamá!
How has your Hispanic Heritage played a part in shaping you as an artist?
My heritage has played an immense role in shaping my art. Being a naturally community-oriented artist comes from being raised in a place where community is the norm rather than individuality. This has helped a lot with building strong, trustworthy relationships in my artistic career.
My passionate, colorful, and empathetic artistic persona is a tribute to my culture. Nonetheless, there’s always place for exploring the discomfort of coming from a highly misogynistic, colorist place.
I feel proud to be a relatable aerialist for younger folks and I feel lucky to have been influenced and inspired by many other latinx aerialists like Renata Pinal, Daniela Astorga, Elbita Hernández, and Metzli Espinoza.
Are there aspects of your Hispanic heritage that have played a part in your creation of "The Nightingale"?
The Mech Bird reminds me a little bit of an Alebrije - a creature that is not completely an animal, but a mix of various animals .
To me, the Mech Bird is a robot with a human desire to be liked and loved. This is also a desire that I have - not only as a person but also as an immigrant in a new country - to be accepted with my accent, with my way of doing things and with my colorful personality. These are parts of myself that I don’t want to diminish in order to blend in better.
¡Gracias PCT!