ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

RULAN TANGEN Biography

RULAN TANGEN was recently noted in DANCE MAGAZINE as one of the "Top 25 to Watch" for 2007. Her lifetime passion for dance includes international experience in the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and South America as a choreographer, performer, and  teacher.

Her credits include ballet and modern dance companies in New York (Michael Mao Dance and Peridance), Vancouver (Karen Jamieson Dance), Santa Fe (Moving People, Dancing One Soul) and California (Marin Ballet), and appearances with the One Railroad Circus, as well as extensive yoga training, and powwow trail experiences as a Northern Plains traditional womens dancer. In Fall 2009 her choreography will be recognized by the appointment as Visiting Distinguished Scholar at Washington University.

With a devotion towards the development of the innovative field of Indigenous contemporary dance, she has taught extensively in Native communities throughout the Hemisphere including projects under the auspices of the Native Wellness Institute, and the National Dance Institute.

As a performer, she has been featured in lead roles with most of the major Native productions including Raoul Trujillo's TRIBE, Daystar Dance/Dance,  Minigoowezewin at the Banff Centre for the Arts Aboriginal Dance Program, CAMA Awards, Aboriginal Achievement Awards,  Robert Mirabal's "Music from a Painted Cave" PBS television special and subsequent 80 city tour, and assistant to the Directors of BONES: Aboriginal Dance Opera.

 She believes in this form of dance as continuing the link of culture from ancient to futuristic, and this culminates in her vision for DANCING EARTH –Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations, for which she is choreographer and director.

Her choreography has been commissioned by venues including the Heard Museum, Santa Fe Art Institute, Society for Dance Historians, Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, Teatro Nunes in Brasil, Centro Cultural de Recoleto Argentino,  Native Roots and Rhythms Festival, Santa Fe Dance Festival, Native Cinema Showcase at the Center for Contemporary Arts,  Idyllwild Arts Program, Living Rituals World Indigenous Dance Festival, Toronto Harbourfront’s Roots Remix Festival, Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum, and the International Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop.

She is currently developing theater and film and cultural exchange projects that bring dance to serve as functional ritual for personal, social, and environmental health and harmony.

RULAN TANGEN Resume

SUMMARY

 Internationally regarded dance artist: choreographer in film/theater/outdoor and site specific venues; instructor (several movement forms); lecturer; published writer; dancer/performance artist; actress; dance company founder - with 3 decades years of experience in study of movement arts, performing, producing, and live performance.  Field acknowledgement as a pioneer of Indigenous contemporary dance movement. Fieldwork in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brasil and Argentina with Indigenous cultures. Lecturing and shared panelist experience at various Universities, Art Institutes, Native Wellness Conferences, and Educational Programs
Strengths include:

¯  Deep and thorough understanding of dance as a cultural, artistic, educational and commercial medium that can renew culture, cross-pollinate other art forms, express diversity, inspire social/personal/environmental healing, strengthen communities, integrate language and other components of worldview, and the ability to lecture and create workshops on such subjects
- Mentorship of many younger artists, especially Native/Indigenous artists – including recruiting, training, coaching, professional development, casting and recommendations
- Ability to create dance programming for a broad range of students of various backgrounds including cancer patients, reservation populations, University students,  pre-professional  ballet and modern dance aspirants, urban street youth ( in Argentina), Amazonian Indian groups (in Brasil), film casts, adult dancers, senior citizens, powwow dancers, public elementary school students including differently-abled such as with Down’s syndrome, paraplegia,  artificial limbs
- Building strong relationships with artist collaborators locally, nationally and internationally
- Ability to select and cultivate projects based on quality and originality, as well as cultural importance and relevance
¯  30 years of professional dance experience and it’s myriad components of training, conception, production, media relations, and versatility to maximize efficacy

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

¯  Noted as “One of Top 25 To Watch” by Dance Magazine 2007
¯  Founder of DANCING EARTH – Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations, recruiting and training outstanding young indigenous performers for collaboration and development of the emerging art form of ‘Indigenous Contemporary dance’, with performances in theater, film and ‘all terrain’ venues , and local/regional /national/international workshops for Indigenous youth and Indigenous international cultural exchange
-  Hundreds of performances over 3 decades in 6 countries as a dance performer with over thirty choreographers in genres including classical ballet, contemporary ballet, modern dance, TanzTheater, powwow, circus arts, Aboriginal /Native contemporary dance
¯  Creation of more than 20 choreographies on DANCING EARTH dancers; powwow team dance groups;  ballet/modern dance students ; public elementary school students (under the auspices of National Dance Institute and the Santa Fe Opera Artist in Residence Program)); Native youth on reservations; Wise Fool aerialists and Stiltwalkers ( circus arts for social justice); community members without dance training for “MemoryLines’ – a contemporary Opera co produced by Little Globe productions, Santa Fe opera and Lensic Theater; NZINGA Capoiera Theater Production; Institute of American Indian Arts students
¯ Development of Cultural Creative Movement Program for selected New Mexico  public elementary schools and a Montessori school
- Assistant to Directors of BONES, the first contemporary First Nations dance/opera produced at the Banff Centre of Arts and Leadership
-  Published essay  in  forthcoming volume “Contemporary Methodologies in American Indian dance” edited by professor Jacqueline Shea Murphy of UC Riverside
-  Informal dance ethnology fieldwork in Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil and cultural exchange with Maori, developing with colleagues ethics of protocol for integration of traditional cultural themes into contemporary theatrical expressions
- Visiting Distinguished Scholar  and panelist on Ethnic Profiling in the Arts (Fall 2009) , Washington University

MEMBERSHIPS

¯  SAG Union Actress, Full Voting Member
¯  Advisory Board Member, Moving People Dance Santa Fe
-  Associate Member, Wise Fool New Mexico (Circus Arts for Social Justice)

PUBLISHED WRITING

- Essay in forthcoming Volume ‘Red Rhythms: Contemporary Methodologies in American Indian Dance’; editor Professor Jacqueline Shea Murphy, UC Riverside
- Foreword for ‘HUMANLANDSCAPES  Interpreting the Human Form’ ; photographer and author Phillip Miller, poetry by Peter Crane.  Fresco Fine Art Publications
- Foreword for ‘100 Questions About Head and Neck Cancer’ by Elise Carper RN, Kenneth Hu MD, and Elena Kazan RN. Jones and Bartlett Publications
- Article “Dance With Cancer’ for Native Beauty
- Article for ‘Sun Monthly - Women’s Panel’
- Creative Writing/Poetry  for Red Ink , Vol. 11, No. 2

CURRICULUM VITAE

TEACHING/LECTURING

Visiting distinguished Scholar, Washington University ( fall 2009)
Washington University, panelist on Ethnic Profiling in the Arts ( fall 2009)
Arizona State University, Herberger College guest faculty Dance Dept with assistance from Department of Community Engagement
University of New Mexico , guest lecturer
UC Riverside, guest lecturer
Red Rhythms Dance Conference, featured roundtable panelist
Youth Career Mentorship Panel, Sponsored by Grammy Foundation
Idyllwild Summer Arts Residency
Conference for Society of Dance Historians held at Banff Centre for Arts
Native Health and Wellness Institute, regional conferences
University of the Arts, Xalapa Mexico
Woodlands Cultural Center in Canada
Santa Fe Opera Artists in Residency program in NM public schools
Institute for American Indian Arts
La Mariposa Elementary Cultural Creative Dance program
 “Journeys Through Knowledge” (a health and wellness conference for Northeastern Native youth)
Santa Fe Art Institute for resident artist and Artworks Educators
Woodlands Cultural Center
Institute of American Indian Arts
Art/video/dance workshops with street children of Buenos Aires during Hemispheric Encuentro of Performance and Politics
Santa Fe Indian School mentorship workshop
National Dance Institute (residencies for over 450 youth annually including 3 Indian reservations)
Michael Mao Dance (dance classes for ESL high school students , and visually impaired adults)
Culture Shock Camp (tour of 3  Northwestern reservations)
Peridance NYC (yoga based classes)
Redwood Empire Ballet, CA (creative movement)
Simon Fraser University Canada (ballet)
Maindance, Canada (ballet for adult beginners)
Yo-Ha-Hee-Yo tour (youth workshops on Six Nations Reserve)
Sarah Lawrence College
Rutgers University
United Nations School
Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris
Universite de Montpellier, France

DIRECTING, directed, assisted or co-directed the following:

DANCING EARTH Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations
Native American Cultural Center of San Francisco’s Earth Dance Theater program
BONES-Aboriginal Dance Opera
Indigenous Dance Project for World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education
Native Roots and Rhythms Dance and Music Festival
Project HOOP, Institute of American Indian Arts program coordinator
National Dance Institute residency programs on several reservations
Banff Aboriginal Dance Program company coordinator
Wise Fool Circus: The Curtain ( overseeing theater mounting)
Maka Chante Native InterTribal youth powwow troupe
Native American Cultural Center’s Indigenous Dance Program

CHOREOGRAPHY, Most listed below includes performing in my own choreography:

Hemispheric Conference for Indigenous Performance, Brasil
Centro Cultural de Recoleto in Buenos Aires Argentina
Living Rituals Global Dance Festival in Canada
Conference for Society of Dance Historians in Banff Centre of Arts
Roots Remix International Arts Festival of Toronto
Idyllwild Summer Arts Residency
International Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop, Toronto
Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop, Banff
UC Riverside’s Red Rhythms Conference
Native Roots and Rhythms Music and Dance Festival at Paolo Soleri Amphitheater, 3 yrs
World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, in Canada
Grand Opening of the Lensic Theater, Santa Fe
Moving People Dance Theater concerts
Heard Museum staircase and galleries, for opening of artist Walt Wooten
Heard Museum auditorium for opening of artist Virgil Ortiz
National Dance Institute, for public school youth musical productions
Wise Fool Solstice Circus and One Railroad Circus
Santa Fe Dance Festival
National Performance Network Showcase
Society for Dance Historians , conference at Banff Centre for Arts and Leadership
Music from a Painted Cave, 80 city tour including New Orleans Jazz festival
Museum of Crafts, NYC – glass art exhibit featuring C.S. Tarpley
Dance Now NYC Festival , at St Johns Cathedral
Center For Contemporary Arts, Native Cinema Showcase
Santa Fe Art Institute
Kiva Indian Arts Gallery, street presentations
Canyon Road Spirit Walk procession
Institute of American Indian museum courtyard

TV AND FILM CHOREOGRAPHY

“The New World” , director Terence Malick
“Apocalypto”, director Mel Gibson
“Music From a Painted Cave”, PBS Television Special
Much Music television ( Canada), Command performance for HRH Princes Charles, William and Henry

AWARDS

Dance Magazine 2007 “ 25 to Watch”
Best Actress Nomination for “Ancestor Eyes” at the 2008 Action On Film Festival
AiAwards 2006 Best Supporting Actress (for 'The New World")
Aboriginal International Choreographers Symposium, Toronto
Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Dance Scholarship, Toronto
Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop, Banff Centre for the Arts
Six Nations Champion of Champions powwow, team dance award
Hennessey Cognac Award for Excellence in the Arts, Finalist
Role Model Award from Rez Crew of New Mexico
various powwow honors in Northern Plains Traditional dance

PERFORMING CREDITS:

Native Dance Productions  including:
KAHAWI (director Santee Smith)
MINIGOOWEZEWIN , originating lead role(director Georgina Martinez)
TRIBE, originating lead role (director Raoul Trujillo)
DAYSTAR (director Rosalie Jones)
HERE ON EARTH, originating lead role ( director Santee Smith)
Living Rituals World Indigenous Dance Festival
DIVI SHADENDE (director Belinda James)

Modern Dance, Ballet, Opera and Circus including:
Michael Mao Dance NYC , originating lead roles on tours of USA, Norway and Canada)
Peridance NYC at the Joyce Theater NYC , originating lead role of Missa Criolla by Miguel Valdez-Mor
“The River” with Karen Jamieson Dance Co,Canada – originating lead role
 Redwood Empire Ballet, CA – originating lead roles
Berkshire Ballet, MA- originating solo role in work of Daryl Gray
New York Grand Opera , “ Il Trovatore” in Central Park
 Catskill Ballet Theater, NY
Wise Fool Solstice Circus, Taos NM- originating solo role
One Railroad Circus, Santa Fe NM – originating solo role

TV, Video and Film

Actress: " Two Moons” in“The New World” (director Terrence Malick) * winning AIA Best Supporting Actress award
Actress: Willa in“Ancestor Eyes “ ( director Kalani Queypo), * nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role by the Action On Film Festival in Los Angeles
Actress: Queen U-Xanya in “The End/Urundun” ( director Alex Meraz), in port-production
 Dancer: Courtship solo in Music from a Painted Cave, PBS Special
Dancer: Much Music Anti-Racism concert, a command performance for HRH Princes Charles,William and Harry
Dancer: Aboriginal Achievement Awards Ceremony
Dancer: Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards
Dancer: video art collaboration with Studio Azzaro for Site Santa Fe Biennale, “Stone Stories’ installation with Susanna Carlisle for the Linda Durham Gallery

BENEFITS

 “Compassion” – fundraiser for cancer treatments for performer without healthcare (honoree)
Native American Aids Project, CA (guest performer for 2 years)
 Benefit for IAIA student cancer survivor, NM (organizer and performer)
 Wise Fool Circus “Feast of Fools”, NM (assistant)
 “Under the Stars We Dance” - scholarship fundraiser for students in 7 different dance forms, held at the Santa Fe Opera (collaborating choreographer and performer)

SPECIAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION

- Anti Oppression Workshops with Wise Fool Circus, NM
- Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop at Banff Centre for Arts and Leadership
- International Aboriginal Choreographers Workshop in Toronto
- UC Riverside Red Rhythms Conference on American Indian Contemporary Dance
- World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education
- Hemispheric Institute of NYU’s Fifth Encuentro of Performance and Politics in Brasil – theme “Performing Heritage: Contemporary Indigenous and Community based Practices”
- Hemispheric Institute of NYU’s Sixth Encuentro of Performance and Politics in Argentina – theme “Corpopoliticas: Body Politics in the Americas
- National Dance Institute Teacher Training
- Native Wellness Institute: Women’s Wellness and Leadership
- Santa Fe Opera Artists in Residence Professional Development Workshops
- Redwood Empire Ballet teacher training; Laban-based Creative Movement and Harkness Kinaesthetic Curriculum with David Howard, Maria Vegh, Anne Hebard
- Harvard Grad School of Education, 3 non-matriculating courses:

• “Art as Knowing” with professor Meryl Goldberg
  “Project Zero: the Study of Creativity” with professor Howard Gardner
  “Community Decision Making: Dominant and Sub-Dominant partnerships” with professor Chuck Willie