Half-Heard: The Azores Premiere + Workshop Series was a great success! Thank you to everyone who was part of this amazing experience!
The project engaged Portuguese youth in a dance workshop and culminating performance in partnership with Teatro RibeiraGrandense and Estudio 13 in Sao Miguel, Azores. Rocha Dance Theater fostered an international exchange by engaging local youth in high quality arts education, collaboration and artistry. Rocha Dance Theater’s artistic Director, Jenny Rocha, conducted 4 workshops, teaching Portuguese students ages 12 – 24 modern and contemporary dance. In addition to teaching technique, Rocha guided dancers to find their own creative voice through a choreographic lab. Following the workshop series, students performed alongside Rocha Dance Theater in the Azores premiere of Half-Heard, which was held at Teatro RibieraGrandense on November 6th, 2021. This project was made possible by The US Embassy Portugal, US Consulate Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Teatro Ribeiragrandense and private donors.
Director, Choreographer & Costume Designer: Jenny Rocha
Rocha Dance Theater: Alexandra Bittner, Dervla Carey-Jones, Nicole Ervice, Jamie Graham, Nicole Lemelin and Jenny Rocha.
Composer: Joseph Rivas, http://beatinstinct.com
Workshop Participants: Beatriz Lavouras, Maria Alexandra Pacheco, Rita Pereira, Maria Antónia Rego, Alice Rodrigues, Inês Melo, Maria Teresa Sousa Pires, Bárbara Henriques, Francisca Policarpo
Below are some images of the workshop, Half-Heard (performed by RDT) and Ablaze (performed by the workshop participants).
The collaborative nature of the workshops and production strengthened an artist exchange between the U.S. and The Azores. Rocha’s workshops weave years of her experiences and inspirations as a teaching artist in the U.S. RDT also aims to inspire young people to realize their dreams, have their young voices heard and their creativity appreciated.
