Dance In-Focus

Paz Tanjauquio in Topaz Arts studio
Paz Tanjauquio in Topaz Arts studio

Year: 2013-2104
DanceForce Member: Paz Tanjuaquio
Artists: Souleymane Badolo, Molissa Fenley, Sylvain Geunot, Hsiao-Ting Hsieh, Hsiao-Wei Hsieh, Whitney V. Hunter
Community Partners: Mertz Gilmore Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
Audience: 800
County: Queens

TOPAZ ARTS presented “Dance In-Focus” – a series of showings, open rehearsals, dance residencies and photo exhibition to bring focus for audiences to come to know dance artists and the creative process. From July 7 to July 27, 2013, we presented a full-scale exhibition of dance photography “InAction: the Virtuosity of Presence” – a collection of portraits of dancers from the well-established professional to the emerging artist by photographer Sylvain Guenot in collaboration with curator Whitney V. Hunter and the 54 dancers & choreographers photographed throughout New York City. Focusing on the presence of the dancer, this new series of large-format prints included dance veterans to celebrated choreographers and young emerging dancers in NYC (see full list on next page). An opening reception was held with the artists on Sat, July 7, 2013, from 6-9pm, followed by several events throughout the month, such as the NYS DanceForce conference July 23-25, and curator tours held every weekend which resulted in a very well-attended exhibition giving exposure to the artists involved.

Two open rehearsals were held to give focus into the creative process:

Sat, Aug. 31, 2013: Molissa Fenley and Company, showed new work “Found Object” & reconstruction of “Energizer” (1980)
Sat, November 16, 2013: John Jasperse Company, showed a new work in progress “From Once Between”

Dance residencies were awarded to choreographers to focus on their work, offering each with rehearsal space:

Souleymane Badolo: July 2013 (10 hours)
Hsiao-Ting and Hsiao-Wei Hsieh: August 2013 (32.5 hours)
Molissa Fenley: September 2013 (25 hours)

Two performances were held to bring focus to artists’ works, inviting Queens communities with new audiences developed:

Sept. 6, 2013: Hsiao-Ting and Hsiao-Wei Hsieh: Queens-based choreographers from Taiwan, presented two new works
Oct. 26, 2013: Collaborative performance by Mamerto Tindongan and Grace Nono, indigineous chants from the Philippines, with slide presentations and collaborative performance with contemporary dance with Paz Tanjuaquio.