Santa Fe Arts Journal

Creative Coverage of Santa Fe's Arts Communities

In the Studio With…Zuleikha Meet this Santa Fe "storydancer" who shares her talents worldwide

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Many Santa Feans know Zuleikha as the evocative dancer who presents an annual concert celebrating the poetry of the 13th century Persian Sunnin Muslim poet Rumi at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Along with poet and translator Coleman Barks and musicians such as Glen Velez, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Dawn Avery, Eugene Friesen, David Darling and Jai Uttal, Zuleikha brings Rumi’s poetry to life through her unique storytelling.

But behind the scenes, Zuleikha is a globe-trekking, multi-talented movement specialist who calls herself a “storydancer.” Through working with her own body, she has developed a movement vocabulary that is understood throughout the world.

“My own performance is a type of communication,” she explains. “It feels very exalting to me. I try to bring something about the human experience to others when I perform.” [Read More…]

A Journey of Reconnecting "A Goddessey" addresses empowering the feminist community

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Sarah East Johnson has loved to dance since her teen years. She took countless classes in her hometown of Los Altos, California, honing her movement skills. However, the message from her teachers was anything but encouraging. They suggested she get rid of her blue hair, lose her muscles and drop 10 pounds.

“When I couldn’t find a place inside the dance world, I created my own space,” she says. “Along the way, I found some very special women eager to join in.”

In 1998, Johnson founded LAVA, a feminist acrobatic dance company based in Brooklyn, New York that pushes the boundaries of dance, gravity and gender expectations.

The company presents its work “A Goddessey” at Wise Fool New Mexico on May 12 and 13. [Read More…]

Dancing in the Streets Jacob Jonas The Company brings youthful energy to the Lensic stage

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Twenty-five year old Jacob Jonas has transformed himself from a teenage street performer to the founder and choreographer of his own dance company.

Jacob Jonas The Company, which performs at the Lensic Performing Arts Center on May 3, brings its unique style of movement fusing breakdancing, acrobatics, modern dance and contemporary ballet to the works “In a Room,” “One Pair Off” and “Obstacles,” which are on the program.

“What’s so great about my company is that I have artists with really different backgrounds,” says Jonas, who has sought out dancers with experience in parkour and acrobatics as well as ones who are conservatory-trained in ballet and modern dance. “I tell my stories using their experiences in dance.” [Read More…]

Dancing the Night Away New Mexico Dance Coalition presents its annual Choreographer's Showcase

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New Mexico Dance Coalition, a non-profit organization with the mission of developing and promoting dance within New Mexico, presents its 31st annual Choreographer’s Showcase at the Railyard Performance Center on April 27 and 28.

“There will be solos and group pieces,” explains the show’s producer Jasmine Quinsier, a dancer who has performed in past showcase events. 

“Most of the works are new and have been created especially for this show,” she adds. “They represent a variety of movement styles. Each dance is fully costumed and features professional lighting and sound.” [Read More…]

The Diversity of Contemporary Dance Parsons Dance showcases works by its esteemed, award-winning founder

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David Parsons’s versatility as a choreographer is on display during Parsons Dance’s performance on April 6, which is presented at the Lensic Performing Arts Center by Performance Santa Fe.

The eclectic program, which features works created by Parsons from 1982 through 2017, shows the wide range of movements that has been exciting Parsons for more than 30 years.

“Caught,” a solo piece that was choreographed and danced by Parsons in 1982, has had a long and illustrious life. Dancers from Alvin Ailey to Mikhail Baryshnikov have presented this incredibly demanding work. [Read More…]