Zulema is a multidisciplinary musical narrative that follows a young Mexican woman’s migration journey across the U.S. Commissioned to celebrate the Grammy-nominated Sones de México Ensemble’s 25th anniversary, the project brought together music, dance, and storytelling in a high-scale performance at Chicago’s Millennium Park.

My Role

As the commissioned writer, I developed the story concept and narrative framework, working closely with Sones de México and weaved together a narrative world that accommodated a variety of dancers and guest musicians. The final performance included over 50 performers and was staged at the iconic Pritzker Pavilion, reaching thousands of attendees.

Creative Strategy

I built the narrative to both showcase the ensemble’s musical diversity and explore themes of displacement, aspiration, and identity. The piece was adapted to resonate across audiences — from cultural organizations and families to first-time performance attendees — and supported the ensemble’s vision of cultural education through art.

Outcome

Zulema culminated in a signature performance at Millennium Park following a city-wide tour of smaller venues. The show drew an estimated audience of 10,000+ at Pritzker and was supported by the City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs. A promotional trailer can be viewed below.