SMC’S Global Motion World Dance Company to Perform Nov. 18-19 at The Broad Stage

SMC’S Global Motion World Dance Company to Perform Nov. 18-19 at The Broad Stage

Performance Features a Work Choreographed by Guest Artist Wilfried (“Willy”) Souly and Two Works by Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo (BFM)

 SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica College (SMC) Global Motion World Dance Company will be presenting its fall 2023 performance of dances from around the world.

Performances are on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Santa Monica.

SMC students will present the excitement and diverse beauty of other cultures through showcasing traditional and contemporary World Dance styles — including West African, Contemporary Ballet, Hawaiian/Tahitian, Indonesian, Mexican Folklórico, Salsa, Hip Hop, and more. The performance will include a dance work created for Global Motion by guest artist and renowned choreographer Wilfried (“Willy”) Souly and two dance works by SMC Dance Department company in residence Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo (BFFM).

Advance tickets are $20 for general admission (a modest service charge applies) and may be purchased online at smc.edu/tickets or by calling 310-434-3005 (Monday-Friday; limited hours). Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the performance for $23 (a modest service charge applies) at The Broad Stage Box Office at the SMC Performing Arts Center. Free parking on premises. Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis.

Global Motion was founded over 40 years ago by Judith Douglas, former chair of the SMC Dance Department, to bring knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the diverse beauty of dance throughout the world, and to give SMC students the essential experience of working with choreographers and performing as a professional company, on a professional stage.

The SMC Dance Department uses The Broad Stage — including the stage and lighting crew and support staff — for performances. Costumes are handmade each season by professional costumer Patricia Oliva.

Los Angeles dance artist/choreographer Souly, originally from Burkina Faso, has been a lecturer at the UCLA World Art & Culture/Dance Department since 2009. He learned African traditional and contemporary dances with the acclaimed company The Bourgeon du Burkina, and was co-founder in 2001 of Compagnie Tâ. Souly has collaborated and performed in works such as “Space i Tiempo,” choreographed by Robert Battle (USA) and Gerardo Delgado (Mexico) in Tampico, Mexico; and “Dole Danle,” with the Hip Hop company E.Go (France), directed by Eric Mezzino and Gilles Schamber.

This year, SMC’s dance company in residence — Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo — will present two folklórico dances from the states of Jalisco and Coahuila (the northern state of Mexico) choreographed by Alondra Ramirez and Ashley Ramirez.

Global Motion is under the artistic direction of Raquel Ramirez and Sri Susilowati. Ramirez is a dance professor at SMC and the founder and director of a folklórico performance group dedicated to supporting the traditions and cultures of Mexico. Susilowati, originally from Indonesia, creates and performs traditional and contemporary works that focus on community, gender, and ethnicity.

Faculty choreographers are Laura Canellias (Salsa), Keali’i Ceballos (Hawaiian/Tahitian), Angela Jordan (Jazz Funk), and Sri Susilowati (Sundanese).

SMC dance students audition to choreograph pieces each semester for Global Motion. This spring, the student choreographers are Liam Gifkins, Stephanie Beltran, Heather Angpauco, and Micah Klassen.

Global Motion World Dance Company has toured extensively and performed at schools, festivals, and special events throughout California and Mexico, as well as performances in Beijing, China; Bracciano, Italy; Santiago, Chile; Lloret de Mar, Spain; and Paris, France. In October 2019, the ensemble traveled to Asia for performances in Beijing, China.

More information is available at smc.edu/dance or by calling the SMC Dance Department at 310-434-3467. All performances subject to change or cancellation without notice.

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