DOUBLE BILL WEEKEND

Mojuba! Dance Collective

Sista, -CIRCLE!

A celebration of the resiliency of the human spirit, Sista, -CIRCLE! is a demonstration of the power of self-love, discovering connection, and finding community. Sista, -CIRCLE! unearths our traumatic legacy and declares the triumph in honoring the concept of Sankofa: “you must reach back to reclaim what was lost in order to move forward.”

About Mojuba! Dance Collective
Mojuba! Dance Collective (MDC) seeks to celebrate and acknowledge the stories and experiences of the African American narrative whilst honoring the cultural and spiritual dance traditions of the African Diaspora. ‘Mojuba’ is a Yoruba term which loosely means the art of offering reverence. In this way, we seek to celebrate, preserve, and explore the narratives and artistic contributions of Black America. We strive to call into question that which we think about ourselves, our society, and our culture. It is our great pleasure to preserve and explore Black cultural identity as we challenge the mainstream. mojubadance.com

Main image credit (top): Darius Peterson

ABREPASO Flamenco

Beyond Nostalgia

Inspired by the feeling of yearning for places and versions of oneself that have never existed, sound and movement become dynamic landscapes of nostalgia in this mesmerizing and vibrant contemporary flamenco performance accompanied by Marija Temo and Aurie Hsu.

About ABREPASO Flamenco
ABREPASO Flamenco takes its name from the Spanish phrase se abre paso, meaning to make way or forge ahead. The company’s passionate creativity sparks inspiration, inquisitiveness, and liveliness in audiences and students, growing appreciation for this vibrant music and dance form. Artistic director Alice Blumenfeld founded ABREPASO in 2016, based on her view of flamenco as a limitless, ever-evolving, and relevant art form capable of bringing people of varying backgrounds and creeds together. Blumenfeld built her unique flamenco aesthetic on an extensive and deep knowledge of flamenco and contemporary dance, and continues to evolve through collaborative work. Alice Blumenfeld is a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, a YoungArts Silver winner, and a Fulbright recipient in Dance.

Since its founding, ABREPASO has created three original evening-length flamenco performances, all of which premiered at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (Albuquerque, NM). After relocating to Ohio in 2018, the company performed at Playhouse Square to a sold-out audience at Kennedy’s Theatre, and was featured in the Dance Showcase—a highlight performance in the Cleveland dance scene—at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre. Artistic Director Blumenfeld created a Flamenco Symposium at Oberlin College in Spring of 2019, bringing in internationally recognized flamenco artists for the first symposium of its kind in the U.S.

ABREPASO has a number of ongoing community programs, including: flamenco dance for the inmates at the Northeast Reintegration Center, flamenco dance classes for kids and adults at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center, and the company gives a number of educational performances and lectures throughout Northeast Ohio. Previously, ABREPASO partnered with the Children’s Grief Center of Greater Albuquerque for creative movement and flamenco classes, along with various educational performances in New Mexico from 2016-2018. abrepaso.org

“Flamenco Is a Langauge” (TedX talk by Alice Blumenfeld) | youtube.com/watch?v=8nQYQQcxHFo

Alice Blumenfeld’s articles for Dance Magazine | dancemagazine.com/u/aliceblumenfeld

Work samples
youtube.com/watch?v=fC3L7py5wz8
youtu.be/xuEB9-Bg8QI
youtube.com/watch?v=ECA7PUZpuXs
youtu.be/C-yIj09p7ts

Main image credit (bottom): Luis Pons

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTER