Repertoire

From Africa to Here and Back
Length: 5min Performer(s): 1 Music: Still – Hans Zimmer and Baaba Maal
Explores the African belief that drums call ancestral spirits back to earth. The work imagines the journey of a spirit unable to be called when drums were taken away in the New World. It combines complex African rhythm-inspired movement with sparse vocal driven music to suggest the absence of the drum.

Agarráme (Grasp Me) 2004
Length: 6min Performer(s): 6 Music: Golpe E’Tierra
A glimpse of a busy crossroads in Peru and the relationships that exist within the most fleeting interactions.

Sketches in Transit…Going Away 2004
Length: 30min Performer(s): 5 Music: Marc Ribot, Celia Cruz, Ruben Gonzalez, Orishas
Inspired by Alysia’s experiences while living in Havana, Sketches is a moving collage of Afro-Cuban dance, contemporary dance, spiritual singing, images from daily life, and the body language and gestures she grew adept at reading while struggling to understand garbled Spanish. Interspersed with the dancing are selected texts that illuminate American fascination with Caribbean culture Cuba’s in particular.

The Special Period 2004
Length: 6min Performer(s): 2 Music: Ruben Gonzalez with speeches by Fidel Catsro
A man emasculated by Cuba’s political structure struggles to maintain authority in his relationship.

Echando Agua (Placing Water) 2003
Length: 6min Performer(s): 4 Music: Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos.
A rhythmic and athletic interpretation of the movements of water: tides, currents, waves and undertow. Inspired by the Pablo Neruda poems “El Primer Mar” and “El Mar”, the choreography explores the idea of the sea as metaphor for harsh teacher.

Workshops and Classes

Mezclado Master Class
The Mezclado technique draws on West African, Afro-Caribbean, Modern. Hip-hop, and Jazz dance forming a unique syncretic style that blends the percussive pulse of West African Dance, the subtle undulations of Caribbean movement and the fluidity of modern “release” style. The class begins with a warm-up including stretching and strengthening exercises followed by center phrase-work and energetic across the floor sequences. For intermediate to advanced level students.

Dances of the African Diaspora
A study in dance forms rooted in the African tradition. This class can focus on a particular style or region or can be a survey of folkloric styles from Cuba, Haiti, the Antilles, Peru, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic and Brazil. Classes will include a warm-up, instruction in movement style and discussion of the cultural context of the dances covered. For all ages.

Residencies, Assemblies & Masterclasses are offered as in-school programs through CREATE! Arts-in-Education. Call 718-643-7775 for rates and booking.