Internationally Acclaimed Choreographer Comes to Albuquerque

The UNM Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to announce the arrival of renowned dance artist Gregory Maqoma. Maqoma is in Albuquerque working with the UNM Contemporary Dance Students to set a new choreographic work which is set to premiere later this year in Querencia: the UNM Faculty Dance Concert at Rodey Theatre, February 23rd-March 2nd.

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma was born in Soweto in 1973 and became interested in dance in the 1980s as a means to escape the political tensions growing in his place of birth. He started his dance training in 1990 at Moving into Dance where in 2002 he became the Associate Artistic Director. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999 when he was undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School in Belgium under the direction of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker.

Maqoma has collaborated with artists around the world and received accolades from numerous institutions, including the FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year three times, the Standard Bank Young Award, and the Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance. Maqoma is widely considered one of the most talented artists of the new generation in South Africa.

In addition to creating a new work for the upcoming concert, Gregory Maqoma will be teaching an open level class for the Albuquerque dance community at local studio, Studio Sway on Thursday, January 18th at 6:30pm. More information available at www.studioswayabq.com

The UNM Dance Program is also hosting an artist talk Friday, January 19th in the South Arena of the Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance.