Jade Power-Sotomayor

Dr. Jade Power-Sotomayor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego. Her work focuses on Latinx performance, embodiment, and the intersections of colonialism, anti-Blackness, and environmental justice. She holds a BA from UC Santa Cruz, and MA and PhD from UC San Diego, all in related fields.

Her research explores Latinx performance-making as a framework for addressing systemic issues like xenophobia and economic disparity. Key projects include her monograph ¡Habla!: Speaking Bodies in Latinx Dance and Performance, which theorizes 'embodied code-switching' in social dances like bomba and son jarocho. She co-edited the CENTRO Journal's special issue on Puerto Rican bomba and leads the Bomba Wiki archival project.

Dr. Power-Sotomayor’s articles examine embodied practices such as bomba dance, son jarocho, and perreo, emphasizing how these forms negotiate identity and power. Her work bridges scholarly analysis with community engagement, including collaborations with San Diego’s Bomba Liberté.

Awards include the Sally Banes Publication Prize (2021) and Gertrude Lippincott Award (2020). She actively contributes to dramaturgical work and pedagogical initiatives in performance studies.