Conflux Dance Theater mounts its second performance while offering a different kind of dance company for working moms.
At the upcoming Conflux Dance Theater performance at the Grace Street Theater on Dec. 16, attendees can expect pieces that reflect a wide ranging mix of styles – tap, a pointe piece, a period piece, contemporary dance and jazz.
The seven varied works are choreographed by Miguel Perez and Angelica Burgos, Conflux’s founders, co-directors and professional dancers with impressive backgrounds. “We are more like a contemporary company that has a versatile pool of choreography, that you wouldn't see at any other show in the city,” says Perez. “But also, we're different in how we run our company,”
But running the new Conflux Dance Theater company is just part of how these Richmond-area artists, dance teachers and choreographers dedicate their talents.
Perez’s professional career includes stints with River North Dance Company and Hubbard Street 2 in Chicago. He toured and danced with Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis, and Donny and Marie Osmond. Perez currently works as a full-time dance instructor at James Madison University, he also teaches classes at the West End Academy of Dance, Conflux’s home base, as well as other studios. Born in Arizona, he started dancing in the Mexican folkloric style.
Over Burgos’ performing career, she has danced with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Sacramento Ballet, Ballet Hispanico and in the “West Side Story” Broadway revival in 2010. She also teaches at the West End Academy of Dance. Burgos’ background is Dominican.
The upcoming performance reflects their diverse backgrounds.
“You will see works that represent cultures, whether it's Latino, whether it's Mexican work,” Burgos explains. “Or you will be able to connect with part of your roots and also works that are really much more contemporary and exploring ideas that aren't necessarily typical, but really pushing boundaries with some of the ideas that we explore in our works.”
Having a diverse group of dancers is important to both Perez and Burgos.
“Not everybody needs to be the ballerina and also represent the ideal that comes with that,” Burgos says.
Perez describes Conflux as a contemporary company that has a versatile pool of choreography that people rarely see at other shows in Richmond.
“But also, we're different in how we run our company,” Perez says.
Of the 13 women who make up the Conflux dancers, eight of them are mothers who at times bring their kids to the studio for the rehearsals to accommodate the group. Burgos and Perez work around their dancers’ work schedules.
“Most companies don't do something like that,” Perez says. “We have smart dancers who do their homework, who come in prepared, because that's the only way we could be able to move forward, because we are very limited in time. Most companies, when they have that full salary and a budget, they're working for months for one performance.”
While Perez will dance in some of the upcoming works, Burgos will watch dancers perform her choreography from the sidelines. One solo piece is being choreographed and danced by LaWanda Raines, an assistant professor of dance at Virginia State University.
Conflux Dance Theater sold out its inaugural show last spring at the Grace Street Theater.
“As we began this new season again, we looked at, ‘Okay, these are the type of dancers we have and how much more can we push them and expose them to different types of work,’” says Burgos.
She and Perez try to challenge themselves as choreographers. For example, she created a work where dancers use large workout exercise balls, and even bounce on them, that was inspired by the René Magritte painting “The Son of Man” where an apple is pictured in front of a face of a man wearing a suit and a bowler hat.
Another work by Burgos is a duet exploring the concepts found within flamenco music including the gestures, such as crossing hands. She takes that further with the dancers’ bodies, so there's continuous morphing and changing of shapes.
One of Perez’ dances is set to a composition of rhythmic human breath as background music.
The title for the show “Convergence” also reflects a new stage for Conflux where they now have a nine-member board fundraising and advising Perez and Burgos.
Leading a dance company has been an adjustment for both Perez and Burgos. “It's been a learning curve for me because I've always been more on an artistic side of the company,” Burgos says. “Becoming a director is stepping into a new world, looking at so many aspects and not necessarily separate from the artistic part.”
Looking beyond this performance, Burgos and Perez have set a goal to have two big performances every year. And they are already looking ahead for collaboration with other artists and arts organizations.
Conflux Dance Theater’s performance of “Convergence” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. at the Grace Street Theater, 934 West Grace St. Tickets are $30 and available here.