Juan is a Colombian interdisciplinary researcher at the intersection of anthropology, dance, and movement. Juan explores the intricate interplay between bodily practices and broader sociocultural contexts, including perspectives of decolonization, feminism, queer theory, and peacebuilding. Currently, as a joint doctoral researcher, Juan investigates the corporeal dimensions of peacebuilding in post-war Colombia and delves into the critical issues of ethics, risk, and safety within dance research. Juan's research aims to explore how movement can be a catalyst for collective action, future-making, and transformative change in the face of today's complex challenges.
Areas of Expertise
United States vs. America & the Battle Over a Name
An overview of why “America” is only associated with the United States and not the entire continent of the same name—and whether this needs to change.
Lessons From Colombia’s Armero Tragedy, the Disastrous Volcanic Erruption of 1985
The 1985 Armero tragedy caused by a volcanic eruption in Colombia was one of the country’s worst natural disasters, leaving behind important lessons to prevent future catastrophes.
The Horrors & Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the Americas
Over three centuries of the transatlantic slave trade, 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the Americas. The racial divisions and segregation that followed persist today.
Truth or Propaganda? The Black Legend That Denounced Spain’s Colonialism
The Black Legend denounced Spain’s colonial actions in the Americas. This 16th-century propaganda, allegedly exaggerated, highlights an intense chapter of Spanish history.
Cinchona, the Malaria Cure that Transformed Global Medicine
Cinchona, a flowering plant from the Andes changed medicine—and imperialism—forever.
The Profound Astronomical Knowledge of Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Studying the confluence of archaeology and astronomy, archaeoastronomy, among the pre-Columbian civilizations of America reveals their profound knowledge of the landscape and the environment.
The Strange History of Why North Is Always Up
South-up maps are challenging traditional views of the Earth—and the political and cultural beliefs that go with them.
How the Spanish Spread Christianity in the Americas
Spanish conquistadors and missionaries spread Catholicism over a vast continent, with a profound impact on its Indigenous peoples.
What Are the Mayan Codices?
Ancient books that escaped Spanish destruction, the Mayan Codices reveal the civilization’s advanced knowledge of religion, astronomy, and time.
Old World vs. New World: Time to Abolish These Outdated Concepts?
The terms “Old World” and “New World” have been used to conceptualize the global landscape since Columbus “discovered” the Americas. Are they still valid today?
How Did the Columbian Exchange Change the World?
The arrival of European colonizers in the Americas had significant biological and cultural consequences stemming from the interchange of goods, ideas, diseases, crops, and humans themselves.
What Is Latin America? Definition, History, & the Rise of “Abya Yala”
Explore a brief history of what is today called “Latin America” and the geographical, cultural, and geopolitical characteristics that define this diverse region.