The Santa Monica College Global Motion World Dance Company is proud to present its Spring 2022 performance featuring dances from around the world.
Performances are on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. in The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Santa Monica. Guests should visit smc.edu/coronavirus before heading to the performance for up-to-date details on vaccine and mask requirements, as requirements are subject to change.
SMC students will present the excitement and diverse beauty of other cultures through showcasing traditional and contemporary World Dance styles — including West African, Belly Dance (aka Raqs Sharqi), Mexican Folklórico, House, Salsa, Samba Reggae, Tahitian, and more. The performances include a work by guest artist Ephrat Asherie — an award-winning, New York City-based B-Girl, dancer, and choreographer — sponsored by the SMC Associated Students.
Global Motion was founded over 40 years ago by recently retired SMC Dance Department chair Judith Douglas 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 at the SMC Performing Arts Center — including the stage and lighting crew and support staff — for performances. Costumes are handmade each season by professional costumer Patricia Oliva.
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 Seda Aybay (Salsa), Keali’i Ceballos (Tahitian), Angela Jordan (West African), and Raquel Ramirez (Mexican Folklórico).
Guest choreographers are Ephrat Asherie (House and Breaking) and Rachel Hernandez (Samba Reggae).
Alumni choreographers are Erica Caplan (Belly Dance, aka Raqs Sharqi), and Erik Muñoz and Yessenia Bueno Muñoz (Salsa/Cha Cha).
SMC dance students audition to choreograph pieces for Global Motion. This spring, the student choreographers are Micah Klassen, Levi Klassen, and Ryoto Ogato (Hip Hop).
The ensemble has toured extensively and performed at schools, festivals, and special events throughout California and Mexico, as well as performances in Beijing, China (three times); Bracciano, Italy; Santiago, Chile; Lloret de Mar, Spain; and Paris, France.
Advance tickets can be purchased online at smc.edu/tickets at any time for $20, plus a modest service charge. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.
More information is available at smc.edu/dance or by calling the SMC Dance Department at 310-434-3467.
Submitted By Grace Smith
