Bailando. Person in ruffled orange chiffon top with full, ruffled orange skirt kneels with arms raised high, holding edges of the skirt.

Bailando!

Presented in partnership with Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre

What is the Latin American dance scene in Vancouver?

Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 7–8:30PM
UBC–Robson Square Theatre- C300 (800 Robson Street) [map]
FREE

 

Bailando! What is the Latin American dance scene in Vancouver?

DanceHouse has partnered with the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre to ask, “What is the Latin American dance scene in Vancouver?” Join us for this free event featuring demonstrations from four local Latin American artists and a panel discussion as we explore this intriguing question together. This event is part of Latin Expressions, VLACC’s celebration of Latin American Heritage month.

The event will take place on October 27th from 7–8:30PM at the UBC–Robson Square Theatre- C300. First, enjoy a series of short demonstrations, featuring local dancers, performing in various styles. Second, a conversation led by Francesca Piscopo and Danais Yera with dancers Luis Garcia (Nahualli Folklore), Davi Rodrigues (Lamondance), Sonia Medel and Salome Nieto on the richness and diversity of the Latin American dance scene here in Vancouver, and a discussion of what it is like to practice their art.

Join us after the panel discussion for the opportunity to mingle with the artists and speakers over refreshing drinks.

Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre, Latin Expressions, Labin America lives in Vancouver.

Top Image: Salome Nieto © Carl Craig.

About the Moderators

Francesca Piscopo

jjosuephotography DanceHouse FrancescaPiscopo WEB 11 300x300 1

Francesca is a former independent dancer and is a graduate of the DAMS program (music and performing arts) in the faculty of philosophy and literature at the University of Bologna (Italy).

In 2004 she worked at Arena del Sole theatre, Bologna. This was followed by a move to Barcelona (Spain) to study Stage Design for Theatre and Television at I.E.D, where she began her career in the arts management field.

In 2007 she joined Iliacan as general manager, in the choreographic centre La Caldera. The same year she produced the annual edition of En Tremp Dansa Festival, in Lleida. At the end of 2009 Francesca moved to Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, where she worked as manager of the Compañía del Cuerpo de Indias (El Colegio del Cuerpo).

Francesca returned to Barcelona in 2011 and worked as executive producer and project manager of multiple projects at the Mercat de les Flors, Graner Centre for Creation, Poble Nou Contemporary Creation Festival, among others.

She joined Eponymous after travelling to Vancouver (Canada) in 2014, where she currently works as Agent and Producer for artists on the company’s roster, as well as Artistic Associate and Director of Community Engagement and Outreach for DanceHouse.

Danais Yera Guerra

Danias yera guerra 300x300 FITTI 039Born in Cuba, Yera graduated from the National School of Ballet, the Dance Program at the National School of Art Instructors, and the University of Havana, where she received a BA in Social Communication. She has over 15 years of experience in the arts and cultural sphere internationally and in Vancouver. Since moving to Vancouver in 2014, Yera has been sharing her extensive knowledge of event planning and logistics with experience organizing over 50 cultural events throughout the Lower Mainland. Yera completed the Advance Arts and Entertainment Management Program at Capilano University in April 2016. For Danais, dance is closely tied to identity, a sense of belonging, community, and freedom of expression.

About the Artists

Luis Garcia

Luisgarcia300x300“Mexican Traditional dance has led me to a greater appreciation for the value of the arts, especially dance, which has provided me with the ability to facilitate connection, respect and dialogue with others.”

Luis Garcia was born in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. Luis learned dance at an early age with multiple community dance groups and completed his training as a Mexican Traditional dancer with the Ballet Folklorico at the University of Chapingo in Mexico. Luis holds a B.A. in Rural Sociology from Chapingo University and a B.A. in International Studies from Simon Fraser University.

In 2010, Luis was invited to co-found Nahualli Folklore Society. He has been a choreographer, artistic director and dancer at Nahualli Folklore Society for 12 years. 

Sonia Medel

SMEDEL Headshot300x300Sonia Medel has been challenging inequities and promoting decolonial and intersectional feminist engagement with arts, culture, and education across the Americas for over a decade. She is completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia; her dissertation includes an exploration of the experiences of Latina women dancers in Vancouver, as part of a broader analysis of the impact of Latina artists on the local arts and culture scene. Simultaneously, she is developing a range of curatorial, artistic, publishing, and research projects. A proud Spanglish speaker, Quechua learner, and visibly racialized Indigenous-Afro descendant daughter of a Chilean exile father and Peruvian immigrant mother, Medel is grateful to the Coast Salish Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples and their lands on which she was born and carries out her artistic and scholarly practices.

Salome Nieto

Salome Nieto 300x300 387 c 1 of 1Salome Nieto’s work is created on the traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Described as enchanting, ethereal, and evocative by her audiences, Nieto is an accomplished dance artist renowned for her emotionally charged performances. Her transformative works explore ritual, ceremony and feminism themes with an aesthetic highly influenced by Butoh and Mexico’s surrealism. In 2017 Nieto was awarded the Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award for her contributions to contemporary with her solo work. As an interpreter, she has worked predominantly with Canada’s leading post-butoh company, Kokoro Dance, Donna Redlick Dance and Raven Spirit Dance. In addition to artistic practice, Nieto holds the Fine and Performing Arts Programmer for Dance position at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby and is currently pursuing an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at SFU.

www.salomenieto.com

Davi Rodrigues

46 DAVI Lamondance 16Feb191422 300x300 1Originally from Brazil, Lamondance Artistic Director Davi Rodrigues distinguished himself both as a dancer for many years and as a visionary young choreographer for nearly a decade.

Davi studied Physical Education at the Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB), and was a dancer for six years with the Aplauso Cia de Dança. Davi also studied classical ballet with the Ballet Theatre Guaira’s principal dancer, Heloisa Almeida. He has choreographed eight full-length dance shows for Cia Criatividança, where he worked as both director and dancer for 15 years.

Davi moved to Vancouver in 2008 to work as a dancer and guest choreographer for Lamondance Company and has since risen to the position of Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. Furthering his commitment to community impact, Davi created the Lamondance and Friends Gala, now in its eleventh edition.

As a passionate mentor, Davi enthusiastically contributes to dance communities by supporting, educating and challenging artists to take risks. He continues to pursue artistic excellence, creation, production and performance, with an ongoing commitment to share his breadth of experience with performers, choreographers, and arts educators in the community at large.