Photo credit: David Poertner
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Juan Urbina
Coreographer, Dance Artist and Teacher Juan Urbina is a Venezuelan Contemporary Dance Artist. He holds a M.A. degree in Contemporary Dance Education from the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. He trained at Escuela Taller de Danza de Caracas, Fundación Ballet Las Américas, Pisorrojo (UCV), among others, and moves in the fields of social care, choreography and education. He embodies, researches and combines Afro-diaspora dances into his practice. While based in Ireland, he collaborated with artists that include Dorota Konchevska, William Frode (Cork Community Art Link), John Scott (Irish Modern Dance Theatre), and Step Up Dance Project 2014 and 2016. Juan led a community dance group with homeless people living in Dublin, and created "The Broken Tooth" (2015) "Hard to Get//Himmeli" (2016) and "Baile Bua: Sounds Like Celebration," (2017). Currently, he co-develops Somatic Sauce, La Descarga [Digital] online performances and educational events. Informed by the retreat Color Block and his experiences in the artistic fields of Europe and South America, He advocates for social justice and access while co-creating with disabled and immigrant communities.
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Social Media accounts https://www.facebook.com/JuanUrbinaDance Instagram: @juanvrbina @somaticsauce |
Media, Writings and press
Links
Dancer's Group Magazine
Article: When Salsa Swipes Right on Somatics, There is a Match by Juan Urbina and Amelia Uzategui
Press in Lippstadt, Germany:
Lippstadt. Durch Tanzen Grezen überwinden
Irish Times. Culture. 'It gives me something to look forward to,' Dublin's homeless find solace in dance
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/it-gives-me-something-to-look-forward-to-dublin-s-homeless-find-solace-in-dance-1.3326350
RTE News. "One step at a time - empowerment through dance"
https://www.rte.ie/news/video/2017/0515/875331-dance-dublin/
"Rising" Dance and Homelessness Documentary. Dublin Simon Community and Dublin Youth Dance Company
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4bOZrN7F9k&t=618s
Dragon of Shandon Parade. Cork, Ireland 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MwrGxxePuE&list=PLjwYYJ94O6bUkmhFayHrRa1Q8lYQfzFW7&index=11&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IhuGBOvF7k&list=PLjwYYJ94O6bUkmhFayHrRa1Q8lYQfzFW7&index=9
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Photo Gallery
Connecting Communities Dance Project
Artistic team: Juan Urbina and Linda Waldhoff
Connecting Communities is a dance project focused on accessibility and integration. It reaches individuals at the edge of society as well as everyone who is interested to get socially engaged and collaborate through multidisciplinary, artistic practice. The project also focuses on contemporary dance and somatic embodiment. Professional dancers and educators lead this as a week-long process. It takes place in institutions that are dedicated to people who are often in the margins of society, e.g. a workshop for people with mental or physical disabilities or a shelter for homeless people. The initial phase of this project took place in Arbeitnehmer der Werkstatt für Behinderte in Lippstadt, summer 2019. This project continues into winter 2020 (postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Artistic team: Juan Urbina and Linda Waldhoff
Connecting Communities is a dance project focused on accessibility and integration. It reaches individuals at the edge of society as well as everyone who is interested to get socially engaged and collaborate through multidisciplinary, artistic practice. The project also focuses on contemporary dance and somatic embodiment. Professional dancers and educators lead this as a week-long process. It takes place in institutions that are dedicated to people who are often in the margins of society, e.g. a workshop for people with mental or physical disabilities or a shelter for homeless people. The initial phase of this project took place in Arbeitnehmer der Werkstatt für Behinderte in Lippstadt, summer 2019. This project continues into winter 2020 (postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
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The aim of this project is aligned with the goals of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education discussed and published after the Second World Conference on Arts Education in 2010. One of these goals is to, “Ensure learners from all social backgrounds have lifelong access to arts education in a wide range of community and institutional settings” (UNESCO, 2010). The Road Map for Arts Education also states, “High-quality Arts Education requires highly skilled professional art teachers, as well as generalist teachers. It is also enhanced by successful partnerships between this and highly skilled artists.” (UNESCO; 2006).
In line with The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the article 27 expresses, “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” This project aims to promote cultural education within diverse communities to innovate and pursue social well-being. Below you can find an article from the press in Lippstadt who documented the initial phase of this project: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-eFrQWJ3D_CBZ8szc3NS0kJ25y4GmIxS/view |
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BAILE BUA // sOUNDS LIKE CELEBRATION (2017)
Juan Urbina and Mary Lally created a project that engaged with participants from Dublin Simon Community services in Dublin City, Ireland. They aimed for embodiment and dance as a unifying force. They met every Thursday to practice, research and experience the joy that dancing together brings. The group also performed at small events such as the annual Scrappy But Happy Book Launch, The Irish Street Medicine Symposium and Donor Engagement events.
Juan Urbina and Mary Lally created a project that engaged with participants from Dublin Simon Community services in Dublin City, Ireland. They aimed for embodiment and dance as a unifying force. They met every Thursday to practice, research and experience the joy that dancing together brings. The group also performed at small events such as the annual Scrappy But Happy Book Launch, The Irish Street Medicine Symposium and Donor Engagement events.
In Collaboration with members of the Dublin Simon Community Dance Group, Patricia Whelan, Ana Martínez, Tom Smith, David Collins, professional dance artists Mary Lally, Ailish Claffey, Monica Muñoz, Matt Szcerek, Karol Szarek, Music Composers Neil Sweeney and Dorota Konchevska, Singer Vinny Mannion.
Baile Bua: Sounds Like Celebration was their a full length dance performance they created directed to the general public. It was the culmination of two years of work and led to the Arts Council Dance Project Award. This project engaged with dance artists, music composers and collaborators in the community to showcase their credo: ‘That dance is for everyone, each dancer plays an important role, and no one is left behind.'
Testimonials from participants:
‘What I like most about dance is its ability to free one up from stress which is toxic and transform negativity and trauma into joy.’ – Patricia Whelan, Dublin Simon Community Dance Group Member.
'It is very fun, therapeutic, it helps us to stay in good shape, happy. I enjoy the rehearsals, the practices, I have fostered the sense of community in the group and group bonds have been created, this has allowed the group to remain constant, despite all the factors we have against' - Ana Martínez, Dublin Simon Community Dance Group Member.
Baile Bua: Sounds Like Celebration was their a full length dance performance they created directed to the general public. It was the culmination of two years of work and led to the Arts Council Dance Project Award. This project engaged with dance artists, music composers and collaborators in the community to showcase their credo: ‘That dance is for everyone, each dancer plays an important role, and no one is left behind.'
Testimonials from participants:
‘What I like most about dance is its ability to free one up from stress which is toxic and transform negativity and trauma into joy.’ – Patricia Whelan, Dublin Simon Community Dance Group Member.
'It is very fun, therapeutic, it helps us to stay in good shape, happy. I enjoy the rehearsals, the practices, I have fostered the sense of community in the group and group bonds have been created, this has allowed the group to remain constant, despite all the factors we have against' - Ana Martínez, Dublin Simon Community Dance Group Member.
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