June 2006

June brought a flowering of creativity for DANCING EARTH, audiences raved over 3 new choreographies by Rulan Tangen at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, and at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.One June 11, Rulan presented a new work inspired by Mayan imagery, entitled 'STELAE RISING'. This quartet was commissioned by MOVING PEOPLE DANCE THEATER for their male dancers, and featured vibrant costumes painted by artist Roger Montoya. It was decribed as "thought provoking, emotional and beautiful" by Wise Fool circus founder Robbie Pino.Also on June 11, Rulan danced in her newest womens trio, alongside Cina Littlebird and Jessica Allen, who were returning from freshman year at Columbia University and a 9 month tour as the lead in "BLAST", respectively. This dance, 'Of Antlers' featured music by Robert Mirabal, as well as Sami and Tuvan songs, and was a brilliant spectacle of sunset colors and bonewhite antler stage pieces. Filmmaker Barbara Bentree called it "fascinating", while writer Charleen Touchette described it as "powerful" and "exquisite".On June 11 she debuted a duet in Banff, titled 'Tree of Life:Time of Drought', which choreographer Tanya Lukin reviewed as "ectsatic in moments and filled with moments of caress and tranformation". Then, she returned to Santa Fe to present the ever popular male trio of 'Thunderstomp' on the closing day of the Santa Fe Dance Festival.The works were filmed by Eduardo Griego and Alejandro Meraz, keep an eye out for the DVDs!Also in June, we celebrated the marriage of Raoul Trujillo to his bride Jessica Carey in a celebration in New Mexico, complete with stilt walkers and fire dancing!