This Is How I Move: NAIA

To coincide with Trans Awareness Week, Ballet Queer presented the premiere of This is How I Move: Naia, a new dance film directed by Jonathan Watkins and featuring dancer Naia Bautista.

“I’m trying to paint that world now with my words and my colours”

Exploring Naia Bautista’s experience as a trans woman and dancer, This is How I Move starts at a point where dance exists in her body but not in her authentic self. Through moments of contemplation, the film explores Naia’s journey through transitioning and relationship to movement, as she challenges and rewrites her lived experience to discover a new world through dance.

About Ballet Queer

Founded in 2023 by award-winning director and choreographer Jonathan Watkins, Ballet Queer is the UK’s first LGBTQ+ ballet company. It aims to create work that represents Queer identities and experiences, exploring and challenging what ballet can be today, and showcasing the talents of LGBTQ+ artists. This is How I Move marks the first film and public facing work from the company.

About Naia

Leaving Gibraltar at the age of 16, Naia Bautista began her training at English National Ballet School and has since worked with many institutions and artists such as Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Disney, Universal Pictures, Nowness, English National Opera and, more recently, Studio Wayne McGregor.

Naia’s artistic journey is rooted in a classical background, shaped by extensive work experience and research in traditional dance forms. What drives her practice is the art of storytelling and the innate passion and desire to facilitate the narratives of others.

In collaboration with NOWNESS, the film premiered on Nov 14, 2024.