Gerardo Tristan Alvarado
Gerardo Tristan Alvarado is Nahuatl (Aztec) Indian
and considers himself to be a part of the Nahuatl diaspora. He was
born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico and has participated with a
folkloric dance group in Monterrey for three years, performing
mainly Mexican Traditional dances. Also, he has presented dance
improvisation on several occasions in downtown Mexico City with a
local dance group. He has also taught Latin dance rhythms (Cumbia,
Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and others) in Europe (Denmark and Germany)
between 1996 and 1997. He has participated in two shows in Canada,
the first one at the University of Lethbridge in 2001. At this
show, Gerardo performed a traditional Javanese dance mixed with
Buddhist meditative practices, and a contemporary dance piece that
incorporated improvisational dance and electronically generated
music. The second show was for Lathbridge’s International Dance Day
in April of 2002. There he performed a longer version of the same
piece being performed for Red Rhythms, called "Transformations". He
is currently living in Oklahoma and is a proud member of the New
Tallahasse (Tallahasse Wvgogee) ceremonial grounds in Eastern
Oklahoma.
Marla Bingham (Mashpee
Wampanoag)
Choreographer, dancer, director of the San Diego based Marla Bingham
Contemporary Dance, received the 2002 Trustee Award celebrating
outstanding achievement for Native performers, for Outstanding
Achievement in Dance. Will perform solo to a Native language version
of "Amazing Grace." (more)
Anthony Ch-Wl-Tas Collins
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.
Andrew Brother Elk
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.”
Terry Goedel
Terry Goedel was raised on the Tulalip Indian
Reservation 50 miles north of Seattle, and graduated from Brigham
Young University where he majored in recreation administration. He
has traveled around the world doing his Hoop Dance and other
traditional performances, and has performed in 30 states, Canada,
Australia, Denmark and other countries. He now resides in Alta Loma
and is a teacher in the Alta Loma School District. Goedel strives
to keep Native American culture alive by performing the Hoop Dance.
Quetzal Guerrero
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.
Belinda James/Divi Shadende and
Dancers (San Juan Pueblo)
Belinda James's Company, DIVI SHADENDE, means "they
are dancing" in the San Juan Pueblo dialect, a phrase she fondly
remembers as a child growing up on the reservation. Whenever a
ceremony was taking place, people would periodically ask if the
dance had started so they wouldn't miss it. Suddenly someone
would shout, "Divi shadende!", and everyone would storm out of the
house in the direction of the plaza to attend the event.
Belinda danced for the Santa Fe Opera
before joining the New Jersey Ballet company in 1984. Her
choreography is influenced by the mythology and history of the Native
Americans. She has studied ballet in New York City since 1979 and has
performed throughout the United States. Ms. James will present a duet from "MDCXXC,"
an excerpt from her ballet about the Pueblo Indian revolt of
1680. I am greatly honored to have Tobin Eason
and
Dartanion
Reed,
two brilliant artists from the American Ballet Theater dance company
of New
York City, grace the performance of this excerpt. (more)
John Jaramillo
(Isleta
Pueblo) and Sandra Hughes
Of Atlanta based Gateway
Productions mask dance theater. Will perform an excerpt of "Old Man Kokopeli"
(more)
Daystar/Rosalie Jones
(Blackfeet/Chippewa)
Dance-Drama of Indian America and dancers. The Company,
founded in 1980, was the first dance company in the U.S. created
with all-native performers and specializing in the portrayal of the
personal and tribal stories of Indian America. Will perform an
excerpt of "No Home But the Heart." (more)
Lyle Kochamp (Paiute)
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".
Geraldine Manossa
(Bigstone Cree Nation from Wabasca, Alberta, Canada)
Geraldine has
explored training in ballet, modern dance, and most recently fancy
dance. She is also a writer and has used dance/movement to stimulate and
add dimensions to her writing and poetry readings. For the past five
years she was both a student and then an employee at the En'owkin Centre
in Penticton, BC Her training at both the Native Theatre School in
Ontario, and the En'owkin Centre proved to be the most fulfilling. It
has allowed her to meet and work with other Native artists, both
emerging and professional. Her work at the En'owkin Centre also focused
towards native youth empowerment through the arts. Geraldine completed a
degree at the University of Lethbridge in Writing and Native American
Studies. Will perform a solo modern dance based piece.
Alejandro Meraz
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.
Michelle
Olson (Han
First Nation, Canada)
Michelle trained in contemporary dance and
choreography at the University of Alberta, University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque and at the Aboriginal Arts Program in Banff. She has
performed across Canada and overseas with Orchesis Modern Dance, body
voice dance collective, Chinook Winds Dance Company and UNM Dance
Company. She is a co-founder of the Raven Spirit Dance Company and a
freelance choreographer. Molly Spotted Elk piece (Choreographed with
Muriel
Miguel.)
Kalani
Queypo
(Blackfoot, Hawaiian)
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.
Alejandro Ronceria
Co-director, Earth in Motion World Indigenous Dance Co., Toronto,
Ontario. Choreographer, Aboriginal Dance Project, Banff Centre for
the Arts.
Santee Smith (Mohawk Nation,
Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand, Ontario)
Santee works
as a choreographer, dancer, singer, and pottery designer. As an
artist, she is committed to sharing traditional and contemporary
stories of her indigenous culture. Santee attended the National
Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, from 1982-1988. In 1997-2001,
she was a part of the Aboriginal Dance Project, Chinook Winds at the
Banff Centre for the Arts, as a dancer, choreographer's assistant
and guest artist. Santee performed the leading role of First Woman
in the workshop production and world premiere of BONES: An
Aboriginal Dance Opera. The world premiere of Santee's full-scale
production of Kaha:wi will occur at the Premiere Dance Theatre,
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto on June 3-6, 2004. Currently Santee is
completing her MA in Dance at York University. The title of her
Major Research Paper is Cultural Transmission Through Contemporary
Iroquoian Song and Dance. She will be conducting interviews within
her community about bridging the gap between contemporary and
traditional aspects of Iroquoian culture.
Rulan Tangen
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"!
Raoul Trujillo
(Apache)
Raoul Trujillo danced with
Nikolais dance theatre from 1980 to 1986. He was the original
choreographer and co-director of the American Indian Dance Theatre
for its first two years. He continued exploring native mythology and
creating a dance technique along with Alejandro Ronceria in Toronto
with Native Earth for the Performing Arts. His work, “The Shaman's
Journey,” was turned into a short dance film for PBS and Alive from
Off Center. He hosted and narrated, "Dancing,” also for PBS. He has
worked as an actor for film and television for the last 14 years,
but continues to dance and choreograph for dance artists and
companies. He has taught and teaches the Nikolais technique all over
the world as well as technique based on native dance vocabulary
merging with Nikolais and yoga. He continues to explore tribal,
mythological and tantric dance art forms in his work. Raoul
is also an
Honor Circle
member of Earth Dance Theatre. Will perform a solo version of
"Shaman's Journey".
Vince Whipple/Wichozani Dance
Theatre
A Southern California based Native American theater company, directed by
Whipple (Lakota/Navajo actor, dancer, and UCR graduate student).
"Wichozani" is the Lakota word meaning health or healing and personifies
the company's belief that the songs, dances, and stories are healing for
the performers, audience, and all people inclusive. (more)
