biography

 

 

 

Choreographer, dancer, dance and movement teacher. Born and resident in Barcelona.


training/studies

When I was a child, I had sports facilities and a persistent character that led me to artistic gymnastics competitions. As a result of the studies of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, INEF, (University of Barcelona (1983-1888) and a proposal on Psychology of Physical Activity, I received a Fullbright/La Caixa scholarship, which will take me to the University of Illinois, to Urbana-Champaign (USA) and will make my way to dance. What was to be a two-year trip becomes a seven-year stay (1988 – 1995). The Master of Psychology of the Physical Activity (1988-1990) was followed by a Master in Contemporary Dance (1990-1993), various performances by the Illinois Dance-Theater Company and two years in New York (1993-1995) immersed in dance (studies, collaborations, performances, own creations).

Back in Europe I spend half a year in Amsterdam thanks to a scholarship from the Ministry of Education and Culture for the expansion of studies abroad (School for New Dance Development, 1997), where I continue to create, perform and study. A few years later, in the summer of 2002 and thanks to a second grant from the Ministry, I go to Japan to meet and learn the Butoh Dance.

I study diverse Contemporary Dance techniques: Limon, Cunningham and, especially, Release with dances from Trisha Brown Company and Jeremy Nelson, Wally Cardona, Irene Hultman, Bebee Miller, Nicki Castro, David Zambrano, among others. I soon feel very attracted to improvisation and creation and receive extensive training in improvisation (Stephen Koester, Cathie Caraker, Danny Lepkof, Dieter Heitkamp, Julyen Hamilton, Andrew Harwood, etc.) and composition (Renée Wadleigh, Bessie Schönberg, Susan Rethorst, Claudia Dias, among others). I study with diverse companies and Butoh dances (Sankai Juku, Dairakudakan, Kazuo Ohno, Yoshito Onho and Mitsuyo Vesugi).

My interest in body awareness, self-consciousness and anatomy works have led me to approach various methods and techniques: Alexander Techniques (Rebecca Nettl-Fiol), Susan Klein Technique (Barbara Malher), Sensory Awareness (Louise Boedeker, Núria Vives), Body-Mind Centering, Skinner Release Technique, Feldenkrais Method and, especially, Anatomy for the Movement with Blandine Calais-Germain, with whom I have done many courses from 2000 to the present. With her I have trained in Periné and Movimiento. I am currently training in the Feldenkrais Method.

 

artistic career: dancer and choreographer

I start my creative work in North America, in the 90s, while studying at the University, and since then I have continued to create creative projects.

While in Illinois I become part of Illinois Dance Theater Co., dancing pieces of Douglas Nielsen, Douglas Dunn, Bebee Miller and Renée Wadleigh, among others. In New York I dance for diverse companies and independent choreographers: Sally Gross, Ann Carlson, Meg Wolfe and Rosa Mei. In Amsterdam I dance in a dance performance from Eileen Standley. In Japón I study and perform with the Dairakudakan Company and Sankai Juku members.

I start my creative work in 1993. Among the short pieces I highlight: With/Without, Ànima d’Hora, Appetite and Suite d’Aigua. Subsequently, I perform longer shows with Ales de plom, Llaços, Rastres, Com voldria ser, and Figures de Pols, which are supported by Catalan public institutions (Generalitat de Catalunya, CONCA, ICUB).

Over the years I have made some specific collaborations with other artists and ensembles (Brian Hagy, Ann Carlson, Dominik Borucki, Emmanuel Grivet and Michèle Ettori among others).

 

career as a professor

I have given dance and bodywork courses at the University of Illinois, at the University of Barcelona (INEF), at the Polytechnic University of Barcelona, ​​at various dance centers and cultural centers and punctual classes at the Osteopathy School of Barcelona.

Endorsed by a wide experience and training, the various contents I teach include improvisation, creative movement, composition, contemporary dance and body / sensory awareness. Although I primarily dedicated myself to teach adult people (amateurs and semi-professionals), I have also directed classes for children, adolescents and older people and people with mental and physical disabilities.

Recently I introduced Experiential Anatomy and Movement courses to adolescents (Lluís Domènech i Montaner Artistic Secondary School in Canet Mar).

Since 2002, I concentrate a large part of the teaching work in the tragantDansa space, although I continue to collaborate with other centers and professionals.

Since 2002, I direct and teach the Training Program [inside MOVEMENT], a program that integrates various contents: movement technique, creation, anatomy, consciousness and theory.
 

management and project coordination

In 2002, I opened the tragantDansa space in Barcelona, ​​a space dedicated to the creation, dissemination and exhibition of Contemporary Dance.

Throughout the 16 years of tragantDansa’s life, I have promoted various creation, dissemination and exhibition projects: EFÍMERa Cycle, tragantProcessos residences, Nodes de Gràcia, tragantJAMS, etc.

Recently and together with the artist Jaume Amigó, we have expanded tragantDansa, opening a new space in a Rural environment, tragantCamp. tragantCamp is located in l’Alzina de l’Aguda, in the region of La Noguera, Lleida.

I have been part of the Board of Directors of l’APdC (Associació de Professionals de la Dansa de Catalunya) between 2008-10.