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How can movement help us find a sense of purpose and meaning? How can dance be a language of power? The Dance Program at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts supports students to expand their movement vocabulary while also developing the skills to be innovators and creators of dance. Using the National Core Arts Standards in Dance, the TAPA Dance Company works to re-center Dance Education around Afro-Latin Dance Traditions, as well as learning, performing, creating, and teaching choreography that pushes these boundaries. Our work as artists is always centered around the identity we bring to the table. At TAPA, our process of working together calls upon the embodied wisdom of our ancestors to heal, take care of one another, and share our strength. Thus, we actively work together to dismantle Racism, Sexism, and other forms of Oppression in our imaginations; in our collaborative process; and in the ways that teachers and students exist together in schools.
Our traditions exist. Our traditions belong. Our imaginations exist. Our imaginations belong. TAPA’s Dance Company is a Multicultural Anti-Oppression community. In Lower School (7th & 8th grade), dancers practice yoga and meditation every day to strengthen our resiliency practice as students, artists, and human beings. By practicing the mind-body connection, Lower School dancers ask the questions: How can I support my body to build new skills? How can I practice being creative? During 7th & 8th grade Arts Rotations, dancers will also learn about the History of Social Dance: How does dance bring people together? How has dance sparked social change? Why did humans create the language of dance? To prepare for their High School Arts Audition, dancers will practice the discipline necessary to be a dancer, athlete, and artist. Upper School (9th - 12th grade) Dance Majors experience what it takes to be an active member of a Dance Company. Each class of Dance Majors functions as a Dance Company, taking on various responsibilities as Dancers, Choreographers, Rehearsal Assistants, Costume Designers, Music Producers, Hair/Makeup Specialists, and Curriculum Writers. Dance Majors take technique classes; design and facilitate lesson plans; and learn to run their own rehearsals to develop the skills necessary to be dancers, choreographers, and teaching artists with a unique point of view as performance artists. Every Dance Major practices yoga and meditation intensively throughout their four years at TAPA, also building the skills to pursue work as yoga/dance teachers, meditation coaches, and purpose-driven work after high school graduation. By Senior Year, dancers at TAPA are fully realized Performance Artists, with the skills to create innovative conceptual work that is rooted in an authentic, expressive, and culturally relevant movement practices as well as social-justice informed research. Any student at TAPA, regardless of their Arts Major, can take advantage of free after school Dance Classes 5 days a week. While after school class change from year to year, these classes provide additional training in genres such as Yoga, Hip Hop, Breakdance, Contemporary Dance, Latin Ballroom, Vogue-Femme, African Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, and Acro/Tumbling. After School Dance Classes are taught by students, local college students, visiting guest artists, and our TAPA faculty/staff. |
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TAPA Dance Team
Matt Garza, Dance Artist in Residence
Mr.Garza@TAPAProvidence.org || instagram.com/garzasmash
Matthew Rolando Garza (he/him/his or they/them) is a Queer Latinx performance artist, choreographer, curriculum writer, educator/youth advocate, and unicorn originally from South Texas. With 8 years of classroom teaching experience, Garza is a founding member of the Glitter Goddess Artist Collective and a senior company member of New Works/World Traditions Dance Company; an Art21 Educator; a Project Wayfinder Guide; a facilitator for the Youth Leadership Institute; an instructor for Brown University’s Leadership Institute; an adjunct professor in the Theatre Department for CCRI's program in the Men and Women's prisons; and a committee member for PRONK: Providence Honk Fest. Garza holds a B.A. in Education History from Brown University ‘11 and a dual M.A. in Educational Theatre & Social Studies Education from NYU. His favorite movement traditions include Latin (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata), West African, Hip Hop, Vogue, & Contemporary dance. In his free time, Garza enjoys glitter, painting, singing, practicing/teaching yoga, dismantling intersectional oppression, eating spaghetti, and making costumes.
Mr.Garza@TAPAProvidence.org || instagram.com/garzasmash
Matthew Rolando Garza (he/him/his or they/them) is a Queer Latinx performance artist, choreographer, curriculum writer, educator/youth advocate, and unicorn originally from South Texas. With 8 years of classroom teaching experience, Garza is a founding member of the Glitter Goddess Artist Collective and a senior company member of New Works/World Traditions Dance Company; an Art21 Educator; a Project Wayfinder Guide; a facilitator for the Youth Leadership Institute; an instructor for Brown University’s Leadership Institute; an adjunct professor in the Theatre Department for CCRI's program in the Men and Women's prisons; and a committee member for PRONK: Providence Honk Fest. Garza holds a B.A. in Education History from Brown University ‘11 and a dual M.A. in Educational Theatre & Social Studies Education from NYU. His favorite movement traditions include Latin (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata), West African, Hip Hop, Vogue, & Contemporary dance. In his free time, Garza enjoys glitter, painting, singing, practicing/teaching yoga, dismantling intersectional oppression, eating spaghetti, and making costumes.
Assi Coulibaly, Adjunct Choreographer in Residence
Ms.Coulibaly@TAPAProvidence.org
Assitan ‘Assi’ Coulibaly is a Malian-American dancer, choreographer, and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Assitan began training in West African dance with New Works/World Traditions at Brown University with whom she has performed and travelled worldwide. While working towards her undergraduate degree, she became a member and co-director of Wheaton College’s only multicultural dance company, TRYBE, and served as the teaching assistant for the Mande Dance class at both Wheaton and Brown University. Much of her early work is greatly inspired by her Malian heritage and is highlighted by her fusion of Coupe Decalé, traditional West African, and Hip Hop dance and music styles. These bodies of work are meant to reflect the fun and energetic community lifestyle that is reminiscent of her childhood growing up between the United States and Mali. Her most recent work, Ne So, addresses the complexity surrounding refugee status, war, hope and hopelessness. Assitan has most recently received her B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Peace and Social Justice and French. She is currently teaching West African Dance at the Rhody Center in Pawtucket, RI and the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA, and recently completed the College Access and Post- Secondary Success Americorps*VISTA during the 2017-18 school year.
Ms.Coulibaly@TAPAProvidence.org
Assitan ‘Assi’ Coulibaly is a Malian-American dancer, choreographer, and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Assitan began training in West African dance with New Works/World Traditions at Brown University with whom she has performed and travelled worldwide. While working towards her undergraduate degree, she became a member and co-director of Wheaton College’s only multicultural dance company, TRYBE, and served as the teaching assistant for the Mande Dance class at both Wheaton and Brown University. Much of her early work is greatly inspired by her Malian heritage and is highlighted by her fusion of Coupe Decalé, traditional West African, and Hip Hop dance and music styles. These bodies of work are meant to reflect the fun and energetic community lifestyle that is reminiscent of her childhood growing up between the United States and Mali. Her most recent work, Ne So, addresses the complexity surrounding refugee status, war, hope and hopelessness. Assitan has most recently received her B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Peace and Social Justice and French. She is currently teaching West African Dance at the Rhody Center in Pawtucket, RI and the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA, and recently completed the College Access and Post- Secondary Success Americorps*VISTA during the 2017-18 school year.
TAPA Dance Community Partners
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