Ballaro Dance
We value community and collaboration at our core; we produce unique, sensory-rich dance experiences.
About
From The Choreographer: A Unique Artistic Approach To Dance-Making
Continuing to revitalize my own personal lineage of American modern dance experiences, I approach choreography with two themes. The first reflects a love of rhythm, musicality, and the use of physical space; these dances are similar in spirit to the earliest movement memories I can recall growing up in my mother’s dance studio. An alternate but equally important focus is to use small gestures and the art of storytelling to make meaningful statements. Anna Sokolow’s desire to let motion come from emotion excites me and informs this perspective. Both approaches allow me to engage through universal themes of humanity: love, joy, sympathy, and grief.
My Company, Ballaro Dance, builds and maintains a welcoming environment; our organization is a place that promotes a spirit of engagement and the desire to learn from and through one another. By cultivating a safe space to observe, participate, and communicate through dance, audience, students, collaborators, and performers feel a sense of belonging. Many in our community are first-time dance viewers or class takers; I take pride in my ability to foster safe entry points. Producing events that provide opportunity for inclusive conversations & develop a community network: this is what feeds me as an artist.
Continuing to revitalize my own personal lineage of American modern dance experiences, I approach choreography with two themes. The first reflects a love of rhythm, musicality, and the use of physical space; these dances are similar in spirit to the earliest movement memories I can recall growing up in my mother’s dance studio. An alternate but equally important focus is to use small gestures and the art of storytelling to make meaningful statements. Anna Sokolow’s desire to let motion come from emotion excites me and informs this perspective. Both approaches allow me to engage through universal themes of humanity: love, joy, sympathy, and grief.
My Company, Ballaro Dance, builds and maintains a welcoming environment; our organization is a place that promotes a spirit of engagement and the desire to learn from and through one another. By cultivating a safe space to observe, participate, and communicate through dance, audience, students, collaborators, and performers feel a sense of belonging. Many in our community are first-time dance viewers or class takers; I take pride in my ability to foster safe entry points. Producing events that provide opportunity for inclusive conversations & develop a community network: this is what feeds me as an artist.
Our Mission:
Ballaro Dance values community and collaboration at its core. Through ongoing opportunities to SEE, MOVE, & SHARE together in and through dance, we take pride in cultivating an approachable, welcoming environment. Through each project and collaboration, we continue to redefine how to effectively share dance through unique sensory-based experiences while inviting audience members to act as participants, generating a longer-lasting impact on community.
Our People:
Marisa f. Ballaro, Founding Artistic Director
Hannah Dillenbeck, Company MOVER/Rehearsal Assistant
Jen Silver, Company MOVER
Natalie Katz, Company MOVER
Marina Vianello, Company MOVER
Christina, Tribo, Company Apprentice
Zoran Prodanovic, Filmmaker (Collaborative Team)
Our Purpose:
Catalyze Connections, Cultivate Community
Learn More: https://www.ballarodance.com/