Dani Tirrell
I am working on the self-healing power of dance. I am curious how community helps with this process.
I learned about dance and community within the dynamics of family. I learned the latest dances, how to follow dance instruction and to share with movement in my family structure. These ideas were later supported when I began dancing in the Gay nightlife scene. The idea of the cypher was also an important part of my early development as a dancer as it was a space to see and be seen. It was a space to communicate your deepest truths. It was spiritual.
I am interested in using the ideas of Street and Club dance to explore healing rituals while harnessing the power of our collective thoughts and energies as a means of support and love. I am less concerned about what your body can do in space and more focused on who you are. I want to open the space, so dancers can give themselves permission to be their full selves with no room for judgement of self and others. How do we abandon the ideas of what we think dance is to allow our bodies to be more free in movement? How do we create space for ourselves to reach our max in performance? These are just a few questions that I am asking myself.
CLASS
Class will be focused on House dance movement. Movement will be taught from the tradition of African and African Diasporic dance. We will also discuss the history of House dance as an African and Latin diasporic dance form. We will use this foundation with structured improvisation and to cypher as I ask each dancer to move out of their own way to dig deeper in their personal truths. I have found this to be very emotionally draining for some, but ultimately spirit cleansing.
Biography
Dance artist, performer, choreographer and dance educator. Dani has danced with Jazz and Spirit Dance Theater of Detroit, Monroe Ballet Company, Full Circle Dance Company, Natural Locz Dance Company and Dani Tirrell Dance Theater that he founded and serves as Artistic Director. Dani also created Color Lines Dance Ensemble for youth dance artist ages 12 to 18.
Dani’s latest work Black Bois premiered at On the Boards (Seattle) in April 2018.
Currently Dani’s work focuses on the queer, gender non-conforming and black experience. In March of 2018 Dani curated On the Boards Open Studio Showcase. Dani curated the 2018/2019 Season of Central District Forum of Arts and Ideas (Seattle). Dani will continue with the position of lecture in the Dance Department of University of Washington, teaching Street and Club Styles. Dani also incorporates House, Vogue, Whacking and African Diasporic movement in Dani’s artistic practice and work. Dani teaches throughout the Seattle area with Northwest Tap Connection and formally at Massive Monkees Studio: The Beacon.