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Performers
Earth Dance Theatre
Rulan Tangen, Alejandro Meraz, Lyle Kochamp,
Quetzal Guerrero, Anthony Ch-Wl-Tas Collins, Kalani Queypo, Andrew
Brother Elk
Rulan Tangen,
as recently appointed co-director and choreographer for Earth
Dance Theater, is a lifelong dance artist. She has performed in
the U.S., Canada, and Europe in the fields of ballet, modern
dance, Plains traditional powwow dance, and now reaches into blood
memory to explore visions of global indigenous contemporary dance.
She wholeheartedly believes that dance can inspire the world
towards diversity, solidarity and freedom.
Thanks to Red Rhythms for gathering together so
many colleagues and collaborators. "To live is to dance, to dance
is to live"!
Alejandro Meraz
is a founding East Seat member of Earth Dance Theatre. He is
19 yrs old, born and raised in Arizona, of the Tarasco First
Nation. He has attended the New School for the Arts, has
apprenticed with master mask carver Zarco Guerrero, and trained
for 2 yrs with Axe Capoiera. Winning numerous championships
in karate and breakdance, his thoughts and perspectives on dance
are also influenced by his drawing and painting.
Lyle Kochamp
is of the Cuicuituckata people, Paiute-Shoshone of Pyramid Lake in
the Great Basin of Nevada. He has performed with Rez Crew of New
Mexico, as well as the Native Roots and Rhythms Dance Ensemble
seen in 2000 at the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater during Indian Market
in Santa Fe. A founding East Seat member of Earth Dance Theater,
he dances for the children, the old folks, and those who can’t
dance, drawing strength and inspiration from animals and nature
and "what the earth has told me".
Quetzal Guerrero
carries the name "precious
feather" in the Aztec-Nahuatl language. As a Suzuki trained
violinist, he has studied and performed internationally since age
5, playing with legends such as Tito Puente, Lalo Guerrero, and
Jorge Santana. He is a champion street dancer who has appeared
with H.T.Chen and Co of New York, and is also an accomplished
visual artist and actor who trains with Axe Capoiera. Quetzal is
from the Juaneno First Nation in Southern California, and is an
East Seat founding member dancer and composer for Earth Dance
Theater.
Anthony Ch-Wl-Tas Collins
is
of the Salt River Pima Maricopa community. He has been a
street dancer for 9 years, exploring mixed styles for experimental
and unconventional collaborations, and is now with Earth Dance
Theater as an East Seat founding member. He is also the program
coordinator for the Native American Cultural Center, organizing
cultural events for the indigenous community including the annual
Native Spring Festival. An accomplished photographer, he attends
the San Francisco Art Institute as a recipient of the T.C. Cannon
Memorial Scholarship for his photography.
Kalani Queypo
was
born and raised in Hawaii, trained in NYC and is currently based
in LA. In January he was a part of the launch of Earth Dance
Theater. Kalani has created roles in the world premiere
productions of Miinigooweziwin, Bones: An Aboriginal Dance Opera,
Tribe, The Last American, Glimmerglass, Red Sky, Captive, Soup or
Salad, and Transformations. As a noted actor, he recently
appeared in “Please Do Not Touch the Indians” with Native Voices
Theater in LA, and in numerous television and film productions.
He is looking forward to an exciting year with Earth Dance
Theater.
Andrew Brother
Elk is co-artistic director of Earth Dance Theater. He
began his career at Stanford University, where he directed the
Media Lab, taught mass media courses, served as dean and advisor
to the President, founded arts programs, wrote and directed films
and plays, and was Resident Fellow at the American Indian Theme
House. He left Stanford in 1994 to serve as CEO of a variety of
multimedia corporations. Brother Elk also served as an Arts
Commissioner for San Francisco, and as chair of the Native
American Cultural Center since 1995. He has advised Mayors and
Governors on arts and media issues, and has been honored with
awards and citations from around the world for promoting
indigenous arts. Since 2000 he has devoted himself exclusively to
the arts, creating and directing new plays and films, and founding
both the Indigenous Dance Program and Earth Dance Theater.
"Work like you don’t need
the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one
is watching.”
Photos of these performers can
be found here.
