Dance/AZ: Shaping the Future of Arizona Dance

In 2016, Safos Dance Theatre was a local partner in Dance/AZ: Shaping the Future of Arizona Dance.

The convening was facilitated by Liz Lerman, Yvonne Montoya, and the New England Foundation for the Arts staff and National Dance Project (NDP) Advisors.

The event brought together Arizona’s diverse community of dance professionals to envision a future of our field together! Independent dance artists, dance companies, dance educators, dance presenters, and dance supporters came together and shared their voices to create an inclusive visio for dance in our state.

The gathering also provided opportunities to connect with dance community members, learn more about local resources, and engage in a conversation with NEFA about their dance programs and grant opportunities, which emphasize dance production and touring. 

Dancing the Mural/Color the Mural

Dancing the Mural/Color the Mural was a two-year collaboration between the House of Neighborly Service (HNS) and Safos Dance Theatre that took place March 2013-March 2015 under the direction of Yvonne Montoya.

​

During phase I, 264 community members from South Tucson voted on the theme and the design of the mobile community mural. ​In Phase II, 290 community  members, ages 0-88 painted the mobile community mural at one of Safos' eight Community Paint Days!  Dancing the Mural culminated with Phase III, a site specific dance theater performance at HNS that brought the mobile mural to life. The performance took place March 27+28, 2015. The show featured seven pieces of choreography inspired by the images on the mural. In a sense, the community picked the themes of the dances for the performance.

The show featured youth and senior community members who performed on stage alongside company members. The four 5th grade boys from Ochoa Elementary School stole the show!​

Alba's Story: Recuerdos de Barrio Viejo

“Alva’s Story: Recuerdos de Barrio Viejo” was a dance based on the award winning book “La Calle: Spatial Conflicts and Urban Renewal in a Southwest City” by U of A professor and Tucson Historian Dr. Lydia R. Otero.  The piece was created in celebration of Arizona’s Centennial and premiered in 2012 at “Silent Stories” and evening of an evening with four choreographies based on untold stories from the perspective of women.

Más 

2015-2016, Artistic Director Yvonne Montoya worked wiith Tucson's own Borderlands Theater choreographing the world premiere of "Mas” a play written by Milta Ortiz and directed by Marc Pinate. Four of Safos dancers took the stage with Borderlands actors for this drama based on a true story. Mas, with Montoya’s choreography, was performed in Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, Arizona.