Motions & Emotions

Thank you for supporting Motions & Emotions 2025. Due to financial hurdles, we have decided to stop our fundraiser and postpone the show for a later date.

A performance & workshop series centering the mental health stories of Asian women and femmes. Support the 2025 Production – All donations are tax-deductible

Why We’re Raising Funds

Motions & Emotions: Asian Women Speak Out is a multidisciplinary performance piece created by Trixi Anne Agyao that shares the real mental health stories of Asian women through movement, monologue, and storytelling. The production is bold, healing, and unapologetically honest—because our stories matter, and they deserve to be witnessed.

This year, we’re expanding our impact by offering a series of free, public workshops alongside the show. These workshops focus on emotional wellness, identity, and creative expression—particularly for Asian women and femmes who are often left out of mainstream conversations around mental health.

As support for women, BIPOC, and queer communities continues to be dismantled, creating spaces for healing, visibility, and collective care is more urgent than ever.

What Your Donation Supports

  • Artist stipends for an all-AAPI creative team

  • Rehearsal and performance venue rental

  • Technical and production costs

  • A full series of free mental health and creativity workshops for our community

  • Accessibility resources for our events

Thanks to our fiscal sponsor Golden Guide, all donations are tax-deductible.

Whether you give $10 or $1,000, your contribution directly supports this work and the people behind it.

Spread the Word

Can’t give right now? You can still help us grow! Share this page with your network and uplift the stories of Asian women and femmes.

Thank you for being part of this movement. 💛

Free Community Workshops M & E 2025

Empowerment Through Art by Edna Nerona

Monday, May 5, 2025 from 7:00-9:00p | For BIPOC 18+ | Diversionary Theatre Cabaret: 4545 Park Blvd #101, San Diego, CA 92116

Description: The purpose of our event is to illustrate how creativity and art can be powerful tools for empowerment, mental health, and community. It starts with a showcase of talented artists from different disciplines. Afterwards, there will be a panel where you will get to know the performer as they share how their particular art form has inspired their growth.

Register:https://forms.gle/XRWAh6pUksMcrDxx5

 

The Speaking Body: Discover Bharatanatyam Through Storytelling by Radhika Karandikar

Sunday June 1st, 2025 from 3:30-5:30pm| Open to All | Rap A Tap Center for the Arts 5939 Balboa Ave San Diego, Ca 92111

Description: A dive into the world of Bharatanatyam to explore and appreciate story-telling through various facial expressions and hand gestures based on traditional Indian theatre techniques.
 
 

Reconnecting with Yourself and Sense of Play Through Clowning by Kayli Dela Vega

Monday, June 9, 2025 from 7:00-9:00p | For BIPOC Community | No Experience Necessary | Diversionary Theatre Cabaret: 4545 Park Blvd #101, San Diego, CA 92116

Description: Through several basic clowning exercises, we will help discover your clown persona! Clowning requires an extensive amount of focus and a willingness to play. Along the way, we hope to instill fundamental principles that can aid you as a performer. 

Register: https://forms.gle/bSY7oqaqKPM24TUU8

2024: Asian Women Speak Out

19 Asian American artists will be presented by The Thoughtful Beast in “Motions & Emotions: Asian Women Speak Out”. The event is three performances addressing the mental health journeys of Asian fem identified people and women. Attendees of the event will experience an array of artistic mediums including dance, singing, clowning and piano. There will also be an interactive aspect that the audience will be able to participate in if they feel willing and ready.

Performances May 17th at 7pm |May 18th at 7pm |May 19th at 2pm | General Tickets $25

$5 off for Students/ Industry Artists or enter promo code ARTSTU

Free Community Workshop with Dr. Maddie Ofina

Saturday, May 18th at 11am-1:30pm

This event is sponsored by Professor SwooshMOfina Wellness + Education and Project Conclusion Company.

Produced by The Thoughtful Beast

For questions, please email motions@thethoughtfulbeast.com.

Trixi Anne Agiao is one of about 60 individual artists and cultural practitioners working to create campaigns that raise awareness of crucial issues affecting our San Diego and Imperial counties communities as part of Far South/Border North. Learn more: farsouthbordernorth.com

Mental Health Resource Booklet by Mofina WellnessMental Health Resource Booklet by Mofina Wellness + Education
Excerpt from “Eldest Daughter Energy”
Choreographed by Trixi Agiao
NBC Interview: Motions & Emotions

TESTIMONIALS

” Being an Asian woman and having such a want/need for sisterhood, the level of camaraderie and creativity I witnessed in Motions and Emotions truly brought some healing for me. We are so much more powerful when we work in solidarity together rather than hurt each other. Art can truly bring people together into healing and safer spaces. Having more programs such as this one, is the CULTURE that San Diego is lacking.” -Thao

 

 

“This show was insightful, educational, and impactful. I don’t cry easily, but this show moved me to tears multiple times. This type of art and connection with history is so valuable to share with the community. Please keep doing this. I would love to attend next year.” -Grace

 

 

“Community shows like Motions and Emotions give me an opportunity to see how, although created by Asian women, the themes are universal. I connected with the art in so many ways, from being the youngest child, to feeling the pressure and silence of womanhood.” -Margaret

2023: Filipino American Stories of Healing

25 Filipino American artists will be presented by The Thoughtful Beast and New Americans Museum in “Motions & Emotions: Filipino American Stories of Healing”. The event includes an art exhibit and three performances addressing Filipino American intergenerational trauma.

Attendees of the event will experience an array of artistic mediums including painting, rap, dance and embroidery. The art is united by the topic of Filipino American intergenerational trauma, but also the artists choosing to be vulnerable and their desires for healing.

Performances February 3rd at 7pm | February 4th at 7pm |February 5th at 2pm | Tickets $20 | *Content for performances includes topics of domestic abuse, rape, incarceration, and addiction.

Gallery Exhibit February 3-5th, 9-12th & 16-19th | Thursday-Friday 10am-4pm & Saturday-Sunday 11-3pm| $5 Suggested Donation

Opening Night Tickets February 2, 2023 from 6-8:30pm | Free https://MotionsAndEmotionsOpening.eventbrite.com

Free Community Workshop February 3, 2023 11-12pm

Art Exhibit Artists: Faith Orcino, Vianca David, Mikaelo Aguilar, Liza Macawili, Edmund Arevalo & Giovannie Espiritu

Performing Artists: Joseph Winlove Cudal Soriano, Julia Nejman, Thelma de Castro, Steffi Carter, Bo-Mandel Cordeta, Hortense Gerardo, Christopher Ang, Margarita Jamero, Earl Alfred Paus, Ranier Martinez, Elizabeth Viernes, Odessa Uno & Trixi Agiao

This event was made possible by the NTC Foundation with generous support from RiverRock Real Estate Group. This is event is also sponsored by Professor Swoosh and MOfina Wellness + Education.

Curated by The Thoughtful Beast and New Americans Museum

Excerpt from Motions & Emotions 2023
Choreographed, written and performed by Earl Paus.