Photo credit: David Poertner
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Juan Urbina
Coreographer, Dance Artist and Teacher Juan Urbina is a Venezuelan Contemporary Dance Artist based in Frankfurt, Germany. 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. Urbina engages in Latin dances to practice togetherness and joy. Questioning, redefining and embodying the myriad of Latin cultures. As he is also trained in traditional historic dances from his country of origin, Venezuela, he adds elements of these dances into his contemporary artistic practice. These influence his idiosyncrasy, and thus his movement quality. Attempting to respond to normative, racist and ableist ideologies that divide, his work elevates forms of embodiment that live in a world not designed for their survival. In Ireland, he collaborated with artists that include Dorota Konchevska, William Frode (Cork Community Art Link), John Scott (Irish Modern Dance Theatre). He performed for Step Up Dance Project 2014 led by Michael Keegan Dolan and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. He created community dance productions with homeless people living in Dublin, and choreographed Baile Bua: Sounds Like Celebration (2017). In 2020, he co-produced Somatic Sauce, La Descarga [Digital] Juan works with mix-abled communities in Lippstadt and Münster and co-creates emerging dance work that provides visibility, joy and kin-making with a project called Connecting Communities.
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Connecting Communities Dance Project (ONGOING)
Artistic team: Juan Urbina and Linda Waldhoff
Website: https://connectingcommunitiesdanceproject.wordpress.com/
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
Website: https://connectingcommunitiesdanceproject.wordpress.com/
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. See articles about this project below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-eFrQWJ3D_CBZ8szc3NS0kJ25y4GmIxS/view Premiere Inklusives Tanzprojekt des MuM kommt gut an Grosses Finale auf der Stubengasse |
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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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"Today it is important to talk about difference, to give visibility to difference. To challenge physical borders that keep us apart from each other. Today it is important to practice kinship and make dance accessible for all. The current political situation discriminates and promotes hatred and hostility towards the extranger due to race, gender, religion, ability or nationality. It urges to create consciousness in this regard. In my work I respond to the normative, racist and ableist notions that separate. What would it mean to humble the practice of dance away from the elitist performance."
Juan Urbina Contemporary Dance Artist |
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