Dance Source Houston Presents Mind The Gap XXVIII
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mollie Haven Miller
Executive Director
Dance Source Houston
713.224.3262
mollie@dancesourcehouston.org
HOUSTON, TX January 29, 2024 – Dance Source Houston (DSH) presents the 28th edition of Mind The Gap, an evening of works by local dancemakers, on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30pm at Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH). The program includes local choreographers and companies, including Karen Imas, Mars, Preeti Ramakrishnan, Ren Hall, SpaceTribe, and Zinnia Havelka. The evening will feature aerial, Bharatanatyam, and contemporary dance works created and performed by dance artists based in the Greater Houston area.
Mind The Gap was created in partnership with MATCH to support independent choreographers and small dance companies in presenting their work. The program offers participants high production value, low administrative burden, shared ticket income, and production and audience development support. Begun in January 2017, Mind The Gap has featured works by more than 120 local dancemakers to date, providing opportunities for dancemakers and connecting audiences with new dance experiences.
Tickets to the performance are available now at matchouston.org on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale for both in-person an livestream viewing, starting at $15, with all choreographers receiving a percentage of total ticket sales.
MEET THE CHOREOGRAPHERS
Karen Imas has lived, worked, and performed in Houston, Texas since 2009. Recent work includes “Vanity Redux,” “In Company,” “Dog Commands,” “Myakanin,” “Transitory Sound & Movement Collective’s Collective Isolation Series, “Danse Macabre: Constant Companion,” and “Siren” amongst others. Karen’s performance training includes modern dance, butoh, puppetry, ensemble and solo devising, and mask theatre.
Hello my name is Mars ( like the planet ) and I’m an aerialist from New York City. I have extensive background in aerial arts with silks being my specialty and favorite apparatus. I also have some background in dance with modern contemporary being my favorite form. I have lived in Houston for almost 4 years and I train and coach at Cai Circus in the heights. Aerial arts are a near and dear passion of mine that has helped me become the powerful woman I am today. This art form has given me life ( and almost taken it away ??) and I am so grateful for all of it. I hope my performances can show you how much love I have, not only for this art form, but for this world and community. To my partner, Luis, your love was the key I always needed to unlock my truest phenomenal self.
Preeti Ramakrishnan, artistic director of Shree Krishna Dance Academy, hails from Mumbai, India where she started learning the traditional indian classical art form Bharatnatyam, The pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Bani Tanjore quartet at the age of 6 under the guidance of Gurus. Kumari S Vasantha and S Subbulakshmi. After 14 years of extensive learning, Preeti finished her arangetram in 2004 and worked with famous dance exponent Hemamalini Ji in many mythological ballets. Preeti Ramakrishnan moved to the US in 2007 and launched ‘Shree Krishna Dance Academy’in Oklahoma City, OK with a passion to keep the traditional art form of Bharatanatyam alive in the next generation of artists. With the support and encouragement of the parents, Shree Krishna Dance Academy was formally re-launched in Sugar Land, TX in 2014 and has grown to over 50 students, where students aged 5 through adults of varying ages learn Bharatanatyam.
Ren Hall is a professional dancer, choreographer, musician and composer from San Antonio, TX. He got his start in classical ballet training at age 11 eventually performing in shows such As Snow White, Cinderella, Blanca Flor, The Nutcracker, The Firebird & Scheherazade. Training with San Antonio Ballet School, Ren has also cross-trained in several other dance styles performed and choreographed various musical theater productions internationally, including his time at sea. Ren has released 3 EP’s of original music as well, that he arranged and composed. He has a passion for the arts and a dedication that is unmatched. Ren is new to the Houston area and is currently a trainee with The Houston Contemporary Dance Company.
SpaceTribe has been bringing contemporary dance, flow arts, puppetry, and fire performance to music festivals and traditional stages throughout Texas and the surrounding area. They have performed at Burningman, Astronox, Quaasar, Flow Storm and Playthink,as well as for regional parties and events with SCD Productions and Good Vibe Tribe, and they have presented a number of dance works in traditional theaters under a different name. Based at the Interchange and led by artistic director Maggie Lasher, SpaceTribe is now exploring how to make contemporary dance and performance accessible to a wider audience by presenting their work in the festival and party environment.
Zinnia Havelka grew up in Denver, Colorado training in ballet, modern, and jazz with Davis Contemporary Dance’s second company Next Generation. Following her formative years Zinnia went on to study at Sam Houston State University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. During her undergraduate studies, Zinnia cultivated her artistry through works from choreographers such as Donald Byrd, Maya Orchin, Larissa Velez Jackson, Mike Esperanza, and Madi Hicks to name a few. Zinnia has performed works in Texas, California, Colorado, and Italy in programs such as American Collegiate Dance Association, and Dance Italia as well as premiered her own works through programs like DanceChance with Danceworks Chicago, and Sam Houston State University. Zinnia Havelka Continues to grow as an artist and maker currently performing in the greater Houston Area.
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