December 2009
Dec 5, 2009 2009
SAVE THE DATE !!! Coming up in the first full moon in the new year….
World premiere of:
DANCING EARTH in
“OF BODIES OF ELEMENTS”
Directed and Choreographed by Rulan Tangen
Prices $15, or $10 for children, students with ID, and seniors,
Santa Fe – SPECIAL PREVIEW on Sunday January 31 , 7 pm,
at the National Dance Institute , 1140 Alto St in Santa Fe NM( buy tickets at door , or in advance at KICKS on 801 Cerrillos Rd , 505 982 9277)
Albuquerque — PREMIERE: on Saturday Feb 6 @ 8 pm and Sunday Feb 7 @ 2 pm,
at the VSA North Fourth Art Center, 4904 4th NW in Albuquerque (tickets call Box Office at 505-344-4542 or visit www.vsartsnm.org)
A “GREEN” PERFORMANCE INITIATIVE:
OF BODIES OF ELEMENTS is envisioned as an hourlong performance ritual that interprets Indigenous ecology and sustainability from mythic, historical, metaphoric, futuristic perspectives to revitalize our understanding of current challenges. Worldview is expressed through Indigenous collaborators as dancers, composers, set designer, costume designer, who adapt eco-sustainable practices by incorporating recycled and reclaimed materials, organic materials, bio diesel and solar power into their construction of a new performance ritual, rooted in ancient philosophies. Even our publicity is being done largely through the internet, with some printing with vegetable inks on certified forest sustainable paper products
Please join us in this unique artistic/cultural offering!
Credits :
“OF BODIES OF ELEMENTS “ is made possible by the Doris Duke Fund for Dance of the National Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation.
It is presented by DANCING EARTH CREATIONS and Santa Fe Art Institute, with additional support from College of Santa Fe, National Dance Institute of NM, VSA North Fourth Art Center, Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Southwestern Association for Indian Art, Santa Fe Opera’s Pueblo Opera Program, Espanola Public Schools Arts in Schools Program, Moving People/Santa Fe Dance Festival, Go Native Arts!, Institute of American Indian Art’s College and Museum of Native Contemporary Arts
DECEMBER NEWS:
Rulan’s new choreography for students at Washington University’s winter dance concert TRANSMOTION , is premiering at the Edison Theater in St Louis On Dec 4 and 5 at 8 pm and Dec 6 at 2 pm.
For a cast of 12 amazingly diverse students ( with majors in Psychology, Environmental Science, Architecture, Art and more!) “Ms Tangen creates a new work from a perspective of place specific ritual, exploring the iconography of ancient Cahokia artifacts, and the cultural fertility of the site where two rivers cross, as in the Native American medicine wheel. The ecstatic convergences of anthropomorphic energies at the life source of water later darkens as the implications of extinction of species has ramifications on humanity. Inspiration emanates from both the individuality and the collective group rhythm of a intriguingly diverse cast.”
Rulan thanks the amazing dancers, costume designer Bonnie Krueger and her design class, lighting designer Sean and stage manager Allie, and the vision and support of dance department director Mary Jean and talented colleagues Cecil and Ting Ting, with whom Rulan a was honored to share the program!
November 2009
Nov 8, 2009 2009
At the end of Oct, 8 DANCING EARTH performers participated at the Desert Botanical Garden’s wonderful Dias De Los Muertos festivities in AZ, where we were proud to dance for the CD release party of our talented composer Quetzal Guerrero. We presented 3 more programs, were photographed by Colleen across the way at Papago Park ( see the gallery!) and visited with our former dancer Alex Meraz and family. Performers included Eagle Young, Jose Meraz, Serena Rascon, Nichole Salazar, Alyxis Trujillo, Eric Lopez and production assistant Alex Quintana; we were joined by new apprentice Andrea Nicola, of Globe AZ, with Mary Yazzie assisting with the body painting.
In November, DANCING EARTH solo performed by Serena Rascon in performance at MPD Performance Space in Santa Fe, 730 pm on Nov 6 and 7 for “NEW DANCES an intimate evening of contemporary choreography” . Tickets $12 at 505 438 9180
On Nov 8, live and videotaped excerpts from recent DANCING EARTH choreography were shown for constructive criticism from peers using the Liz Lehrman critical response technique . This Winter Forum was hosted free to public at the MPD Performance Space, by the New Mexico dance Coalition, with Melissa Briggs as moderator.
Meanwhile, exciting preparations afoot for our New Mexico Preview and Premiere of the upcoming new work, OF BODIES OF ELEMENTS in Santa Fe Jan 31 and in Albuquerque Feb 6-7
Collaborating designers include Marama Art*Fashion*Design of Aotearoa for some of the costuming , and Lawrence Santiago (an architectural graduate of Notre Dame University, of the Coushatta First Nation) creating stunning sets, using organic and reclaimed materials.
We are still casting apprentices for the creative residency, NM premieres and national touring of our new work. Dancers with strong training and respect for their Indigenous heritage can contact the director here at Rulan@dancingearth.org
We are also seeking volunteers , video and photo support, sewing skills, and paid administrative assitants for the new production, if you live in Santa Fe and want to contribute some energy into a passionate project, let us know!
We are also seeking cultural and artistic collaborators for a spring project at Stanford University about Ethnicity and Environment. At Stanford and in communities of the Bay Area, we are seeking participants or consultants including in fields as vastly inter-related as Native studies, ethno-musicology, sustainability, social work, land art, gardening, filmmakers, and practitioners of cultural arts. Got an opinion about ethnicity and the environment we share? Contact us and see how you can be involved.
Thank you!
October 2009
Oct 15, 2009 2009
GRACIAS, THANK YOU, PILOMNIA, MERCI, MEEGWETCH, KENAH To All the Sante Fe Performers, Volunteers, and Community who came out for the standing room only “KANTI-KANTI” fundraiser ! La Mujere giant puppet from Wise Fool beckoned in the crowds who were then blessed by the Aztec dancers – their tall feather headdresses casting shadows onto the stunning Sunflower printed textiles by Om Wall Art. Four Native youth joined Dancing Earth’s 3 female soloists, followed by a capoeira circle by Berimbau Capoeira and the entrancing classical buitar duo of Sol Y Luna. The goddesses of Mosaic Dance company danced to Indian and middle eastern music, then Smokin Bachi’s precise Taiko drumming preceded the haunting and mysterious butoh-influenced solo by Deirdre Bond. The show closed with audience participation in Agalu’s drum set, then exotic fire dance outdoors by Fuego de Amor and amazing DJ-ing by Fiyah. Thank to all of you for your support of the vibrant cultural diaspora in Santa Fe !
Oct 12-15 Rulan assists with Native Wellness Institute’s health awareness sessions at the National Congress of American Indian at Palm Springs Convention Center in California. Join us for sunrise yoga out on the lawn, then indoors in the Trade Room we will offer Stretch and Tone, Chair exercises, healthy cooking demonstrations and more.
Oct 30-Nov 1 :
Please come to DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS in Phoenix, where DANCING EARTH will present choreography for the DIAS DE LOS MUETROS celebration! The traditional theme is interpreted through from contemporary Native viewpoint, exploring death and renewal with themes of ghost dance, birds swooping over death scaffolds and then spreading seeds for flowers and corn.
Performances will be held:
Oct 30 and 31, Friday and Sat evening at Ullman Terrace, between 7-9
Oct 31 and Nov 1, Sat and Sunday afternoon at Boppart Courtyard, estimated between 3-4
Sunday Nov 1 430 pm procession through Desert Botanical Gardens
Please join us!
September 2009
Sep 3, 2009 2009
RULAN TANGEN, VISITING DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST LOUIS!
Open to Public Events:
Saturday Sept 12 8 pm Edison Theater : “DANCING WHO I AM” – Rulan will perform a solo along with notable dance professionals, and participate in an panel discussion about ethnic profiling in the Arts
Sunday Sept 13 1 pm Brown Hall, Washington University : “ANCESTRAL EYES – Perspectives, Creative Process and Representation of Native in Film” – a screening of films with which Rulan has been involved, open dialogue with audience about Native representation in film, and choreographic process, including Kalani Queypo’s award winning short film : Ancestor Eyes
movie still from ANCESTOR EYES
Friday Sept 18 location TBA ( pls contact for info): Open rehearsal of work in progress, choreography created during the week on WU dance students
Saturday Sept 19 Native community workshops (not open to general public, Native community members pls contact Rulan or the Buder Center) :
1030 am -12 noon IDENTITITY IN MOTION for Native youth participants,
1-3 pm EMBODYING CULTURE for Native intergenerational community
Meanwhile, please view amazing documentary footage of the cultural contemporary dance work being done on the other side of the world in Aotearoa, with my colleague Terri Ripeka Crawford. ( DANCING EARTH is referenced around 13:15 minutes into the footage). Kia Ora!
http://www.maoritelevision.com/Default.aspx?tabid=294&pid=2545&epid=4572
EARTHEN GLOW !
DANCING EARTH is very proud to be the first Indigenous dance company to be selected to represent diversity of beauty for a cosmetic company. EARTHEN GLOW is an independent woman owned business that creates makeup that is healthier for humans and for the environment, with stunning pigments made from natural ground minerals. EARTHEN GLOW stands out for the broad color choices which recognized a vast array of skin tones. Please view their site, and our feature , at this link:
August 2009
Sep 3, 2009 2009
Rulan performed a solo at the Allan Houser compound, at a benefit for ‘GO NATIVE ARTS!”
July 2009
Aug 29, 2009 2009
Rulan heads to Salem Oregon for Native Wellness Institute’s Youth Leadership Camp, with star Native athletics coaches in football and basketball. The hard work was rewarded by a trip to the Nike headquarters where Sam McCracken gave inspirational speeches.
At the Santa Fe Photo Workshops, Rulan was photographed in a workshop led by the famed Andrew Eccles, shown here in image by student 
Nigel Gregory.
Also, at the Santa Fe Art Institute Rulan created a site specific solo, for the visiting MacDowell colony, in which she interacted with Ana McArthur’s installation of “Where Light meets Water , Murumu on the Equator” – cast of the world’s largest water lily, in the Amazon Rainforest of Brasil.
May/June 2009
Aug 29, 2009 2009
Rulan models for the exquisite leather designer Tiffany Gremillion, for a campaign photographed by the amazing Iscah Trujillo! Makeup products used for these looks are from two amazing woman-owned companies that create luxurious eco-friendly cosmetics without parabens or petroleum, see the beautiful mineral colors for a vast selection of skintones ( yaayy!) at www.earthenglowminerals.com and exotic lipsticks and glosses at www.primitivemakeup.com .
exquisite suede craftmanship
Fire Lotus sculpture by Kasia, for Burning Man
Directly after returning from Europe to attend Tony Abeyta’s art openings in Paris, France and Bristol, England, DANCING EARTH presents OF BODIES OF CLAY in Sedona, for the first Festival of Native Arts and Culture, and in Alaska, at the invitation of the Yu’Pik Nation’s Calista Corp. The Alaska engagement included guest powwow dancers Ria Thundercloud, John Paul Rangel, and Gentry St Cyr. Dancers please send in your photos of the whales and caribou for posting!
Back row, L to R : Serena Rascon, Edgar garcia, Ria Thundercloud, Jennifer Ben, Jose Meraz, Alyxis Ttrujiilo. In center, lower : Gentry St Cyr, John Paul Rangel and Rulan. Photo courtesy of Frieda Seebold, of Calista Corp and Yu’Pik nation. Koyannah Frieda!
April 2009
Aug 29, 2009 2009
Rulan Tangen accepted the award on behalf of ANCESTOR EYES for Best Short Film at the North American Indigenous Image Awards held at the Isleta Casino in New Mexico . Also winning was Raoul Trujillo, as Best Actor for APOCALYPTO and Eli Secody for Best Traditional Recording. Andrea True-Joy Fox, last yrs Miss Blackfoot Canada, came down to support the Runway Beauty Calendar and assist in handing awards.
***NEWS FLASH !!*****
DANCING EARTH proudly announces the casting of one of our core dancers, Alex Meraz , in the lead role of werewolf Paul in NEW MOON, a sequel to TWILIGHT. This casting, by Rene Haynes, was much anticipated , because of the commitment of the production to cast Native Americans in pivotal roles. Alex’s professional dance experience in USA and Canada will doubtless be instrumental in the embodiment of his anthropomorphic character, as will as his work in front of camera ( The New World, Two Spirits One Journey) and behind camera as filmmaker for “Urundun/The End” featuring cast of DANCING EARTH members in all the major acting roles. Congratulations Alex!
Alex Meraz, Photo by Anthony C. Collins
DANCING EARTH new members were selected in a Phoenix audition, for creation of a new work entitled “Of Bodies Of Clay”, commissioned by the NCECA Conference. Public open dress rehearsal will be held at :
ASU Tempe Campus : 510 East Orange Ave Room 132, on April 8 from 1230-2pm. Email for confirmation and details to Rulan@dancingearth.org
Featured dancers will be Quetzal Guerrero, Edgar Garcia, Serena Rascon, Nichole Salazar, Alyxis Trujillo, Eagle Young, Eric Lopez and understudy Jose Meraz in the choreography of Rulan Tangen.
The work was shown this month at the NCECA conference, and at ASU for students, faculty, staff and Arizona community.
In performance at ASU, Serena Rascon. Photo by Alex Quintana
Nichole Salazar, Flying at sunset in Arizona. Photo Alex Quintana
“Thank you for this and your wonderful presentation!” – Naomi Jackson, Ph D. Instructor of Global Dance History Class at Herberger College of Art and Design ASU
Later in the month, The Rotary Club of Santa Fe invited Rulan Tangen to show excerpts of the new work, including local Native youth, at their special event at the Scottish Rite Temple honoring Multi-faceted artist Nora Naranjo-Morse.
Eric Lopez in action
at Scottish Rite Temple, honoring Nora Naranjo-Morse, with 9 local Native youth integrated into the cast!
in action, at NCECA. Photo Alex Qunitana
March 2009
Aug 29, 2009 2009
Rulan Tangen in residence as guest faculty in the dance department of Herberger College, Arizona State University in Phoenix. Activities include teaching community dance workshops at ASU, Cuervo Art Gallery, and Gila River Boys and Girls Club, guest lecturing for Global Dance History Course .
Also, with tech assistance from instructor John Mitchell, Rulan coordinated of global simulcast with Liz Johnson’s dance class in Northern hemisphere, with Professor Terri Crawford and students in Aotearoa in the Southern hemisphere, in honor of the March equinox.
Courtesy of Joe Baker, Director of Community Engagement, the residency ends with 4 site specific improviational performances by DANCING EARTH , at the ASU Art Museum for the ALAC (Alliance of Latino Arts and Culture), Galina’s Couture Boutique in Scottsdale, Night Gallery at Tempe Marketplace, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.
Serena, Edgar, Quetzal and Rulan after show at Galina's Couture
Audiences had this to say:
“The performance was impressive.”- Jesus Hernandez, director NPTV channel
“I received many positive comments from members and perspective members on the beauty of the performance and effectiveness of the event.” – Carmen Guerrero, Alliance of Latino Arts and Culture Membership Chair
“Your passion to connect with our community was clear, thank you again”- Erlinda Torres,President, ALAC Board of Directors
February 2009
Aug 29, 2009 2009
Jaco Cortes and wife, music teacher Ariane Estrada-Cortes, welcomed in new life with the joyous birth of baby girl Camila Carolina Cortes in San Francisco on February 5th, Felicidades!
DANCING EARTH begins this semesters Cultural Creative Movement Programs in Santa Fe at the Sweeney Public School and La Mariposa Elementary School, working with grades 4-8 in Creative movement, Rhythm, and Capoeira with the brilliant instructor and diversity coach Deollo Johnson.
Rulan also is guest instructor this month for IAIA’s theater course, working in tandem with Raoul Trujiilo.