Ballaro Dance

From The Choreographer: A Unique Artistic Approach To Dance-Making 

Inspired first by music, I play with percussive rhythms and call attention to even the smallest sounds that may be unheard by a first-time listener. Actively listening deeply, not just hearing, but often listening to the same piece of music for days on end, I embody the sounds and allow them to come out naturally in movement that shapes space in consideration with time. It’s as if my body is a conduit for the sound to paint space with shapes and actions. Thinking like an architect, I use bodies to create pathways and trajectories to design the space the way a building would be built. Layer upon layer, playing with nuances of sound and space to create choreography that is full-bodied and athletic. 

 

In contrast, I also desire to make work that is human. Often starting with a story, an image, a concept, I use gesture and smaller movement ideas to explore deeply. These dances, unlike the above mentioned, do not start with music, but with humanity. The dancers often speak text in these works, sometimes directly to the audience, to challenge an idea or to call upon an idea of importance. These dances are often the most memorable. After a performance an audience member may ask, “what was this gesture about?” and replicate it exactly. It starts the most wonderful conversation.  

 

These juxtaposing ideas have developed into my current choreographic practice, ebbing and flowing as I develop my creative voice more deeply through each dance that is made. No idea is too bold, as the dance will always unveil itself to me as it desires. I am a conduit for the collaboration of space, time, sound, and concept. 

Above all else, however, I am a community-builder. I desire to create a space for our audience to feel an empathetic reaction to the dancer's story; at the same time, it can be a space where the audience feels welcome to be who they are, to enter the space “as is” in the current moment. An advocate, I enjoy introducing people to dance and its approachable nature, and I relish the opportunity to bring people together in shared experiences. 

Ballaro Dance is an approachable, inclusive Company. We host monthly open classes and look for new ways to engage with community through our platform SEE, MOVE, and SHARE: a collection of various events happening regularly throughout our annual performance season. 

We hope you can SEE, MOVE, or SHARE with us soon, and become a part of our Ballaro Dance family!