The Dance Complex’s Teaching Artists Concert returns 12/9 and 12/10! Our Teaching Artists share dances that span the globe, each deeply connected to multicultural traditions. Read on to learn more about what some of our artists want audiences to take away from their showings.
Sambanismo Academy
(Sean Bjerke)
Music surrounds us. It can lift our spirits and change our mood. Don’t move to the music, let the music move you.
Eight Feet Tall
(Jackie O’Riley)
We’re so looking forward to performing alongside these wonderful groups at The Dance Complex. Eight Feet Tall blurs the boundaries between musicians and dancers, and explores making music with the body – voice, feet, hands. We hope to present Irish dance in a way that challenges the audience’s perception of what Irish dance can be.
Mladost Folk Ensemble
(Andy Taylor)
Mladost Folk Ensemble was founded in 2007 as a celebration of her parents who taught that dance is intergenerational. Our roots are international folk dances. First, we are performing Paduratul, a dance from Romania made from the motifs of dances of the Roma people. Next is Moja Diridika, a dance from the Croatian culture before the country’s civil war. Then onto Corrido, a Polka Noteña from Mexico with European influences, and lastly, Royal Empress Tango, which comes from the ballrooms of England and the US. Through these roots, we learn where the source cultures have been and what matters to them.
Power of Skirts Collective
(Isaura Oliveira)
“A Bandeira de Oxalá” is for the audience to witness our artistic work as a ritual performance. Isaura’s creativity is rooted in Indigenous African Diáspora Spirituality, her African Brazilian Culture. We hope the audience and everyone in the Julie Ince Thompson Theatre carries on their memory and heart of what they are about to witness. “A Bandeira de Oxalá” is a ritual performance, a prayer asking for Peace and Humanity fair in the world. We hope everyone remembers the chants we are about to fill the space up with our voices, and find themselves singing spontaneously by the end of the performance with us and carry it on along The Dance Complex building and their home, any time memories manifest. We hope and welcome the audience to join the Mestra Isaura’s Sacred Space Workshop Series in the last 2023 opportunities: Sunday, December 10th and 17th from 1pm to 2:30pm
Laura Sánchez Flamenco
(Laura Sánchez)
I would love the audience to understand the importance of building community and to support one another. For our flamenco group, our community goes beyond the dance class, becoming a Family for people whose families live thousands of miles away. This piece is an ode to the origin and roots of flamenco, an art form that was born in community out of the necessity of an underrepresented group to express themselves, be seen and heard.
The Click
(Angie Benitez)
I’ll be presenting an excerpt of “my guide to feeling it all” at Roots and Routes. I chose a section to share right in the middle of my piece. I want the audience to find a sense of curiosity and wanting more – what happened before? What route did we take to get here? What’s happening next? I hope the audience feels the chemistry of the dancers and wonders what it is we are supposed to represent.
Back Pocket Dancers
These pieces (Entrada/Parings) both introduce the company to the audience and illustrate our respect for each other and the diversity of our repertory.
Join us to witness and celebrate these artists, as well as Jr Cius Creates, on Saturday 12/9 at 8pm and Sunday 12/10 at 7pm at the Julie Ince Thompson Theatre (Studio 1).