Again... long time no see.

It seems I started here... blogger quite a while back...

if only you could see all that has happened the last 3 years.

for those who don't know...

Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre (PDT) is a contemporary modern dance company. PDT produces a wide variety of conscious art and uses dance as an avenue for education and awareness of injustices. Using the universal language of art, we believe dance shatters paradigms, transcends through culture and cuts right to the heart.

Located in the Bay Area (after living away for many years) PDT has really started from the beginning. Little by little, we've grown and thrown our name out there, a lot of times with no one listening... Still we have continued to persevere and cultivate a community of love while pressing deeper into our craft with full beating passion. We've set high stakes though some would venture to guess we were probably crazy! There is one thing I can say about us though... we LOVE what we do. Because of that simple fact, we have been able to grow. And with many new heights ahead of us we look forward to the great things in store.

Thanks for all our supporters. If this is your first time hearing about us, we hope we can make you an enthusiast!

Here is some of what we've accomplished since we last posted (over a year ago!):

-May 1, 2010 - World Premiere of new work "The Fragrance: The Viole(n)t Shed"

[more in-depth info to share soon!]

-December 19, 2010 - Christmas in the Park, Downtown San Jose. Preview of upcoming new work "Chapters: From a Fluid Thought" set to debut this September 2011

-January 22, 2011 - M Productions Winter Showcase 2011, a collaboration of dancers and choreographers from all over the Bay Area, performed "Pluie Pure:Pure Rain"

...among others...

and we are SO excited to be collaborating with BodyPaint Artist, @TrinaMerry for the @subZEROfestival in downtown San Jose next month!

Stay tuned for more updates!

-Imani Tahira

Artistic Director of

Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre

@TahiraPDT

Ode to Jiri:Sun | Rise--New Work

So exciting news...

things are getting off the ground!

HOPEFULLY i will blog more often... but you never know.

for those of you who are interested in MORE of Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre (i.e. PDT) Find me (us) on FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, and VIMEO...

ANYWAYS

this new work! [more new works yet to come!!!]

back in December, I was asked to Choreograph for the International Festival in Santa Clara County. Gladly taking the invitation, I had a month to choreograph a 10 min dance!

not too bad except i didn't have any dancers available at the time...

so...

a couple of my students and I put together this piece. I had just finished choreographing a 4 min piece on them already. When they said they were willing and available, i decided to expand on some of the ideas I was brewing on at the time.

in 3 weeks we created a 12 min dance filled with passion and hope.

[if you didn't know, I run my company in two separate categories. there is the company itself, Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre. and then there is PrePro: Work|Shop. that is the sector in which I take younger or amateur dancers with the passion for dance and i give them the opportunity to work in a professional setting. outside of the dance recital and competition sphere, there is a much bigger world to see in the realm of dance. ill post more about that later...]

anyways...

read more about what the piece was about.

check out the rehearsal video (waiting on official one)

let me know what you think

--

Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre presents a new work commissioned for The International Festival at Carden Academy in the Bay Area of California. Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre is a pick-up company comprised of many different forms of theatre. Whether classical ballet or improvisational movement, the essence is this: real. The company director, Imani Tahira, believes dance is the language of the soul. “It speaks when the voice does not.” Her mission is to seek that purity of language in a world that chooses to deny their inner man. “There is no question; you will tap into your insides while witnessing PDT’s work.”

ODE TO Jiří: Sun|Rise was inspired by choreographer and phenomena Jiří Kylián, artistic director of the Netherlands Dans Theatre. His work is edgy, challenging and simply amazing. He couples modern with ballet effortlessly and continues to work with new inspirations as an artist that keeps his work alive and kicking!

ODE TO Jiří: Sun|Rise follows a journey of hope in the midst of darkness and loneliness. It depicts the search for companionship, identity and community. The truth is the Sun will shine again! Even in the depths of the late midnight hour, if you hold on just a little bit longer, you will see the sunrise.

Duration: 12 min Performers: Imani Tahira, Samantha Ferido, Victor DiSalvo, Vivian Nisinman Sound Score compiled and produced by Joshua “Demo” Hopkins

Adam—Me’Shell Ndgeocello (rearranged and produced by Joshua “Demo” Hopkins) |

No Air—Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown (Piano arrangement by David Sides) |

Images—Nina Simone | [performance solo: Samantha Ferido]

Come Here—Joshua “Demo” Hopkins (Original) |

this is a Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre production in association with the PrePro: Work|Shop 2009

So I Guess This Is Where I'll Begin...

Not that i am a procrastinator or anything...

i just have a life i guess...

i wanted to put up some pictures and the "dramaturge" for one of my productions. 

i've been thinking about re adapting it soon and so i thought... why not reminisce??

this piece is entitled 

"Rusty Patina Rewritten: with(it)in diamond icey i sing bitter.sweet apples ease"

Winter Dance Concert 2007.  list of participants

Amir Salahu-Din
Atiya Dorsey
Britney Sandifer
Denielle Gray
Erica Pena
Jon Nai Russell
Melissa Bourkas
Navild Acosta
Princess Romero

Video by:Aaron Johnson
Lighting by:Brandon Baker
Costume by:Fontella Boone


Thank You All I Love You!
Photos courtesy of Scott Groller