November 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 6-7Collaborating 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.orgWe 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!