A dedicated educator, artist, author, and advocate for Dance and Culture
Celebración De Vida- A Contemporary Moving Exploration of Mexican Folkloric Dance
This lecture, designed for the 2024 CEDFA Virtual Summit, builds upon my ongoing MFA research project and is presented under the course title Charting Your Place in the Lineage of Makers and Showcasing Creative Practices Built from Authenticity. In a time when AI is increasingly capable of creating art, how can human artists define and maintain a unique voice? This lecture explores different choreographic methodologies where students will embrace their authentic creative voice through movement while engaging with the cultural context of the Día de los Muertos holiday. The course also delves into the concept of authenticity in dance, guiding students to create and perform movement that is deeply personal and reflective of their unique experiences. Students will engage with various techniques and practices that encourage self-expression, cultural heritage integration, and transparent storytelling through dance. Additionally, the session highlights the dynamic relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence, emphasizing how AI can serve as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human expression. Centered on the cultural richness of Día de los Muertos, students will examine the symbolic elements of the traditional altar such as marigolds, candles, photographs, and offerings translating them into movement motifs and gestures. Through this exploration, we discovered how the altar’s elements can inspire choreographic ideas, bridging tradition with contemporary innovation. By integrating AI as a choreographic component, students experience new movement possibilities while honoring the cultural authenticity of this celebration. In collaborative groups, students choreograph and perform a dance that reflects the themes of remembrance, honoring loved ones, and the community spirit of Día de los Muertos, showcasing the enduring importance of tradition in fostering meaningful, authentic creative practices.
Expanding Pespectives: Using Choreographic Elements to Enhance Literacy in the Classroom
This lecture focuses on the integration of books and literacy into the choreographic process to create a dynamic, interdisciplinary learning experience. By incorporating reading and research, students are encouraged to explore a specific topic in depth, expanding their knowledge while enhancing their creative expression. Through this process, learners of all levels engage in thoughtful analysis and interpretation as they read, reflect, and transform their understanding into movement. This approach not only strengthens literacy skills but also fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a deeper connection to the subject matter.
Developing Your Students' Choreographic Voice Dance 1-4
This lecture is collaboration with Ronelle Eddings and it focuses on a comprehensive exploration of strategies to nurture creativity, self-expression, and cultural awareness in dance students across levels 1-4. This highlights the transformative power of dance in fostering physical development, confidence, and empathy while encouraging students to discover and express their unique artistic voices. Participants learn methods to expand students' dance vocabulary, observation skills, and creative potential, emphasizing that there is no "right or wrong" in movement exploration. The presentation also explores choreography as a collaborative and individual process, empowering students to articulate their perspectives through movement.
Mexican Folklore and its use as a Impetus in Contemporary Choreography
My MFA research project focuses on the use of Mexican folklore as an impetus in contemporary choreography, bridging tradition with the present to explore identity, expression, and community. Rooted in my cultural heritage, this Practice-Based Research investigates how the physical, political, and spiritual dimensions of Mexican folklore inform choreographic processes in "el ahora" (the now). By examining "el origen" (the origin) of the emotional and cultural essence embedded in these traditions, I aim to establish a choreographic methodology that honors the past while innovatively engaging with the present. Central to this exploration are the concepts of El Mestizaje, which I use as frameworks to interrogate and reimagine folkloric elements within studio practice. This research is both a journey into the epistemology of my culture and a creative inquiry into how its essence can be translated into contemporary dance practices.