Episode 4.3 : Arri Santiago AKA @arriquenia

Skaterade

Arri Santiago is an artist on and off skates, when she’s not lighting up the floor she’s creating imaginative characters and worlds as an artist and animator.
She had no idea what was ahead when she rediscovered roller skating in 2020. She was introduced to rinks as a young kid (her dad was a rink ref back in the day), but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that she would rediscover skating. She laced up a pair of her grandfather’s skates, which were 5 sizes too big, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Roller skating has taken her on a journey from pandemic skate crews, to opportunities skating with roller skate productions such as DiscOasis, Flippers, and even New York Fashion Week shows. The approach that she brings to her skating is unmistakably elegant and simultaneously inventive by way of harnessing the artistry of whacking and voguing. As glamorous as all of that is, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, along the way she’s faced challenges ranging from tough past and present introspection and engaging with challenging community discourse. In this conversation we delve into the many experiences she’s had these past few years.
She opens up about her complex relationship with movement and how she’s learned and grown and recovered through injuries sustained as a performer, and how exploring outlets for movement outside of skating have deepened her connection to her body.
We also explore broader conversations around boundaries and social media, advice for progressing one’s roller skate skills, the importance of connecting with your local skate community, and the future of building sustainable homes for rink skating in New York City.
Keep up with Arri on IG:
@arriquenia
Take a peep at Arri's artwork! :
@luneplanta
Check out some of Arri's fave jams to skate to! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UkN0eL0SwdWxoXsjoqaWb?si=1_AViUnHR0OS55Thkr-CNA
Arri shouts out A LOT of skaters in this episode, if you're curious about her list of faves, check them out! :
@maskdsk8erz
@lynnamovingstar
@sydblaylock
@jasonacosta
@thesensational_sade
@keeganjamess
@elijahjustice
@jill_tf_out
@joshlemonade
@ginnngaa
@sqwheels
@sqwheelsandhubs
@cottorollerskater

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