For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence…Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought. The farthest horizons of our hopes and fears are cobbled by our poems, carved from the rock experiences of our daily lives.

– Audre Lorde

Resume/CV

Anida Yoeu Esguerra

(Full name: Anida Rouquiyah Yahyoeu Esguerra)

Education

B.F.A. in Graphic Design, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), May 1996

Artistic/Collaborative Productions

Eclectic Kaos Group performance company

Co-Artistic Director (2005-present)

Mango Tribe interdisciplinary performance group

Artistic Director, Performer, Writer (2000-2005)

I Was Born With Two Tongues panAsian American Spoken Word Quartet

Founding Member, Performer & Writer (1998-2003)

“Of Winged Seeds” Work-in-progress performance/installation collaborative

w/Marian Yalini Thambynayagam (NYC & Chicago / Aug 2006)

“Travelogue” Work-in-progress performance w/Eclectic Kaos Group (Chicago / April 2006)

“Saffron Moon” Site specific solo performance (Angkor Wat, Cambodia / Nov 2005)

“Living Memory/Living Absence”Solo interdisciplinary performance at 10 th Annual Asian American Jazz Festival (Links Hall, Chicago / Oct 20-22, 2005)

“Mixin’ It Up: Voices, Stories & Perspectives,” Artistic Director for collaborative performance by youth from Cambodian Association of Illinois, Arab American Action Network and Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (Field Museum; Chicago 2005)

“Bombs & Butterflies Tour” by Mango Tribe (2003-2005)

“Living Absence,” “Back Home,” “Requiem,” collaborative performances by Mekong Project artists ( Phnom Penh, Cambodia; November 2004)

“The Creation Myth Project” theatrical production by Mango Tribe (Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Art Center, New York; January 31 & February 2, 2004)

“Pushing Through Borders” performance/installation exhibit with Hoang Ly (Blue Space Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Dec 19 – 27, 2003)

“Sisters in the Smoke” theatrical production by Mango Tribe ( HERE Arts Center, NY; July 17 - 19, 2003)

“Flow,” and “War,” collaborative performances by Mekong Project artists ( Chiang Mai, Thailand; March 2003)

“Sisters in the Smoke” theatrical production by Mango Tribe (Vittum Theater, Chicago; Sept. 5-8, 2002)

“Mangoes, Cigarettes and My Mama’s Hands: Snapshots from a Mental Landscape” theatrical production by Mango Tribe (Chopin Theater, Chicago; September 9, 2000)

Leadership

Asian American Artists Collective, co-founder & executive director, 2001-present

Mango Tribe Productions, founder & artistic director, 2000-present

Young Asians With Power (YAWP!), co-teacher & mentor, 2002-present

National APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, co-founder & co-organizer, 2000-2003

Women Out Loud! Open Mic, co-founder & co-host, 1999-2002

YellowTechnicolor Tour, performer, 2000-2002

I Was Born With Two Tongues, co-founder & performer, 1998-2003

MONSOON literary arts journal, co-founder & editor, 1993-1996

Community Activists of Muslimah Youth Organization, director, 1989-1992

Awards/Recognition/Residencies

Dance Theater Workshop’s Mekong Project Artist Residency; Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov 2004

Illinois Arts Council Grant, Summer 2004
Norcroft Writing Residency, May 2004

Sandglass Institute at Marlboro College: Intensive Training in Puppet Theater, July 2004

The Suitcase Fund of Dance Theater Workshop for Pushing Through Borders, Vietnam, Dec 2003

Insight Arts’ Creative Moments Award in Spoken Word, Chicago, May 2003

Unit One/Allen Hall Residency; University of Illinois, April 2003

Asian Arts Initiative NPN Residency; Philadelphia, April 2003

Dance Theater Workshop’s Mekong Project Artist Residency; Chiang Mai, Thailand, Mar 2003

Ford Foundation US delegation to the Asian Women Director's Theatre Festival; India, Jan 2003

"Top 30, Under 30 " award from PoliticalCircus.com, Nov 2002

The Public Square’s Citizenship 20/20 Fellowship, Oct 2002

New World Theater: New Works for a New WORLD play development laboratory, June 2002

Listed as “Warrior Women who are changing the world”, YellohGirls.com, 2002

A. Magazine 's "A List" of 2001's top 25 most influential Asian Americans, 2001

Illinois Arts Council Grant, Summer 2000

Community Activism award from Cambodian Association of Illinois, Spring 2000

Appreciation Award & Service to the Muslim Community, Education Comm. of Islamic Foundation, 1991

Publications

Anthologies

“Who’s Got Us,” “The Day After,” and “Haram! Haram! Haram!” Warring: A Poetics of Resistance, 2006.

“What’s In A Name?” Resistance and Rage: Women of Color Respond to Violence, 2006.

“Visiting Loss” Resistance and Rage: Women of Color Respond to Violence, 2006.

“Para Sa Isangmahal,” Invasian : Asian Sisters Represent , San Francisco: S.F. Study Center, 2003.

Found Images/Articles Co-editor, Screaming Monkeys: Critiques of Asian American Images, Coffeehouse Press, 2003.

Chapbooks

Revisions, The Collective Press, Fall 2004.

“Confessions of a Superhero,” Kitchen Poems, The Collective Press, 2002.

“Mama Always Said” No Woes, The Collective Press, 2002.

Raging Uterus, The Collective Press, Fall 2001.

Word , I Was Born With Two Tongues self published chapbook, Spring 2000.

Literary Journal & Magazines

“Catch,” MONSOON fine arts journal, Spring 2002.

“A History of Anti-Asian Violence,” Blu Magazine:The Radical Pacific, issue #13, vol. 3, 2001.

“Excuse Me, Amerika”, Lantern, Spring 2000.

“Have you ever been bumped?” MONSOON fine arts journal, Fall/Winter, 1995.

Recordings

Narrator, Blu Magazine:The Radical Pacific, issue #13, volume 3, CD, 2001.

“Unborn,” AsianAvenue.com Plugged-In 2 CD, 2001.

“Dear BHG: The Revenge Part 2,” YellowFist Campaign, MP3 release, 2000.

“For Mumia,” Until Freedom Rings for Mumia, 2000.

“Excuse Me Amerika,” Revolution Bookstore, Turtle Fin CD, 1999.

Broken Speak, I Was Born With Two Tongues, CD, 1999.

“Para Sa Isangmahal,” IsangMahal Arts Kollective, Muling Pagkabuhay ng kalululwa CD, 1998.

Visual Art/Video/Film

“Evolving into Me: A Biography of my name”, video work in progress

“Yellow Apparel” documentary featuring Excuse Me Amerika performance by Anmol Chaddha, 1999

“A Day in the Life” Video Documentary by CANTV, 1999

“Medium(s)”, Mixed Media Installation, Atomic Kitchen, Spring 2001

“Propaganda Series”, Senior Graphic Design Show, I-Space Gallery, Spring 1996

“Boxed”, Photo Installation, Photo Senior Show, Krannert Art Museum, Fall 1995

“Have you ever been bumped?”, Mixed Media, MONSOON fine arts journal, Fall/Winter 1995

“My Friend Umbreen”, Conceptual Installation, MONSOON fine arts journal, Summer/Spring 1995

“Don’t Call Me Submissive”, Photograph Series of 3, MONSOON fine arts journal, Fall/Winter 1994

“Cigarette Burns”, Photograph, YAWP! Publication Vol 1, No.2 spring 1993

Performance Experience

University Performances 1998-Present:

Arizona State University (Tempe), Ball State University, Brown University, Carleton College, Case Western University, Chapman University, Chicago State University, Columbia College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Deanza College, Depaul University, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Harper College, Illinois State University, Loyola University, Macalester College, Mt. Holyoke College, New York University, Northern Illinios University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Oberlin College, Ohio State University, Pamona College, Rutgers College, San Franciso State University, Sarah Lawrence College, Stanford University, SUNY-Albany, SUNY-Binghampton, SUNY-Stonybrook, University of California- Berkeley, University of California (San-Diego), University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Chicago and Urbana, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Miami, University of Florida (Gainesville), University of Pittsburg, University of Texas-Austin and Houston, Washington State University, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, Yale University

Conferences, Festivals, Panels 1998-Present:

Brave New Voices: National Youth Poetry Slam 2003

Dalaga Project: “Breaking Molds” Creative Writing Series with M. Evelina Galang

ECASU Conference: Georgetown University 2003

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center : MujerCanto Festival 2003

Chicago Asian American Film Showcase 2000, 2001, 2002

College of William and Mary FACES 2001 Conference: On the Rise

Filipino Intercollegiate Network Dialogue at Rutgers College 2000

Intersections: Future Aesthetics Conference at New World Theatre 2002
ISCORE: Iowa State Conference on Race & Ethnicity

KASCON XIII: Empowring the Han Conference at Stanford University

Ladyfest Midwest Festival 2001

Louder Than a Bomb, Chicago Youth Poetry Slam 2005

M.L.A. 2000 Conference Feature

Midwest Asian American Student Union Conference 2001 at Ann Arbor

NYU Freezone: A Symposium on Asian American Youth Culture

NYU Emerging Artists Panel with Jessica Hagedorn

Philadelphia Asian Arts Initiative: October Rap Series

Screaming Monkeys Symposium: University of Miami 2003

University of IL Asian Pacific American Coalition Unseen/Unheard Conference

University of Chicago : “Spoken Rhymes” panel

Washington State University , FASA Conference

Women in Director’s Chair: “Performing Art, Performing Justice” Panel with Ana Castillo

Women Writers VI & VII Conferences at Guild Complex

Voices Breaking Boundaries 2004

High School/ Youth Performance 1998-Present:

Young Chicago Authors (Chicago)
Cambodian Association of Illinois (Chicago)
Fremd High School (Chicago)
Newark High School (Newark, CA)
APISA High School Conference (Santa Cruz)
Ace Youth Program in Brooklyn (NYC)
St. Scholastica High School (Chicago)
Glenbrook North Highschool (Chicago)
Filipino Youth Dialogue (San Jose)
AAYO (Asian American Youth Organization)
  at Illinois State University (Bloomington, IL)

Theater Performances 1998-Present:

Asian Arts Initiative (Philadelphia)
Asian American Writers Workshop (NYC)
Bindlestiff Studio (San Francisco)
Congress Theatre (Chicago)
Chopin Theater (Chicago)
Duncan YMCA (Chicago)
Highways (Santa Monica)
MACLA (San Jose)
Locus (San Francisco)
New World Theater (Amherst)
Northwest Asian American Theatre (Seattle)
Museum of Contemporary Arts (Chicago)
Old Town School of Music (Chicago)
Puffin Room (NYC), Paradox (Seattle)
Vittum Theatre (Chicago)
Women in the Director’s Chair Theatre (Chicago)
Tenement Museum Theater (NYC)
Here Arts Center (NYC)