TAMIU Annual Report 2022

DANCERS HELP SIGNAL TAMIU’S RETURN TO PERFORMANCE SPACE The artistry, energy, innovation and sheer physicality of dance took to the stage this year at TAMIU, with student, faculty and guest performances that dazzled audiences of all ages. The gift of this artistry helped signal TAMIU’s return to the performance space. Guest performers often provided Master classes and student workshops. Among highlights from the College of Arts and Sciences, department of Fine and Performing Arts were: In February, Tim Rubel Human Shakes and TAMIU Dance students presented “The Culture of Love/ La Cultura del Amor.” Detailed storytelling, expertly crafted choreography and spoken text/dance performances creatively examined equity levels between LGBTQ+ communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo border. The performances reflected research by Rubel, TAMIU assistant professor of Dance, with community members in San Francisco and the border region. In March, Ballet Nepantla, a New York City-based affiliate of the Edinburg Dance Theatre, explored the strength and resilience of women during revolutionary México with its production, “Valentina.” Ballet Nepantla tells stories of struggles and triumph while exploring the spaces between love and hate, hope and despair. In April, the renowned Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) marked its third return to TAMIU with its bold and acclaimed creative blend of modern jazz and African spiritual dance. Founded in 1976, DBDT is the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. Dancers performed a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by nationally and internationally-known choreographers. In October, Ballet Nepantla returned to TAMIU with a celebration and commemoration of ancestral heritage and Día de Muertos with Mística. The new work paid homage to Afro and Hispanic roots as it transported audience members into the afterlife. For more on TAMIU Fine and Performing Arts, visit www.tamiu.edu/coas/ . An Events Hotline at 956.326.3044 also provides recorded updates. 20