Interview with Petrona De La Cruz Cruz and Isabel Juárez (2003) : Interview with Petrona de la Cruz and Isabel Juárez Espinosa of FOMMA (Fortaleza de la Mujer Maya) conducted by Diana Taylor during the 4th Encuentro of the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, celebrated in July of 2003 in New York, United States under the title "Spectacles of Religiosities." Petrona de la Cruz and Isabel Juárez Espinosa are Mayan Indian playwrights and actresses from Chiapas, Mexico. Pioneers in theater and social justice in their country, in 1994 they formed the women's cooperative, FOMMA, to empower displaced Indian women and children through workshops in bilingual education (Tzotzil/Tzeltal and Spanish) health programs, job skills and theater. They have performed in small communities throughout Chiapas as well as at universities and festivals abroad. Forced to leave their native villages at an early age, they became maids in the neighboring mestizo city of San Cristóbal de las Casas. In the '80s they went to work at the fledging Indian writers' cooperative, Sna Jtz'bajom. It was there they became interested in theater and received training from Ralph Lee of the Metawee River Theatre Company. They have subsequently worked with several other teachers including Amy Trompetter and Luis de Tavira.  Watch the Interview

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