Flower Boy is a personal solo production, in which Carl Aquilizan explores gender norms and queer identity in a meditative and visually rich and expressive staging. The dancer has used his childhood fantasies about the feminine as the starting point for Flower boy. This production explores how traditional gender norms have shaped and confined him – and how we can reclaim our childhood dreams.

Wearing a generously flounced, flower-like costume over a long-sleeved, white lace bodysuit, Aquilizan draws the eye as an almost luminous pink presence on a stage resembling a misty landscape. The dancer goes from calm, controlled movements to increasingly large and rapid, highly detailed gestures, as the electronic soundscape grows in power. The result is a poignant portrayal of what it is to experience the oppression of femininity and queer identity – and the opportunity to cultivate those same qualities.