DanzActiva
A champion for cultural diversity and social inclusion through excellence in dance and music
Paulette Beauchamp
Danzactiva is a performing arts, music and dance organization, founded by dancer, choreographer and teacher Paulette Beauchamp in 1998.
Beauchamp began her career dancing classical repertoire as part of the first group of dancers of Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico. She later obtained a BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase, with a concentration in dance and choreography,receiving direct mentorship Sarah Stackhouse, original member of the Limón Company.
Since then, Paulette has continued studying diverse forms of dance and developing her own choreographic style, which integrates traditional Puerto Rican dances, such as bomba, and complex disciplines such as flamenco, kathak, ballet, and modern dance.
Beauchamp has had a long collaboration with composer Carlos Bedoya, which has produced renowned works based on Puerto Rican culture such as the show ENCUENTRO de pies, tambores y faldas (Encounter of Feet, Drums and Skirts).
Paulette Beauchamp and Carlos BedoyaFlamboyan Arts Fund
Encuentro also opened many doors that have led to a deeper level of cultural research as well as international ties to many artists and dance forms.
Also in this process Kathak (North Indian classical dance) was presented in Puerto Rico for the first time in major venues in 2001.
Kathak PauletteFlamboyan Arts Fund
"Encounter of feet, drums and skirts"
"Encounter of feet, drums and skirts" was performed at LA TEA Theater, New York, is a live music and dance journey from Puerto Rico to Spain, and India.
The dance show recreates the fascinating influences of the migratory route drawn by the Romany, from Northern India to Southern Spain (Andalusia), and from Andalusia into the New World.
Puerto Rico being the last part of that route, is the beginning of this intercultural show created by choreographer Paulette Beauchamp and composer and director Carlos Bedoya.
Encuentro’s original cast and performance.
This show hailed as 'Sublime' by the New York critics won the ACE and HOLA awards for best Musical Production in New York City, 2003. It has a cast of widely recognized soloists in each of their fields:Deepak Kumar, Classical Indian Singer. Naren Budhakar, Tabla player, Chayito Champion: Flamenco singer; Luis Linares - Flamenco Guitar, Richie Flores, conga player; Angel Luis and Otoqui Reyes, Puerto Rican Bomba percussionists, and Carlos Bedoya: cuatro player (Puerto Rican ten string guitar).
Cadencia AndaluzaFlamboyan Arts Fund
Further cultural research led to Andalusian Cadence
DanzActiva’s key artists delved into their Spanish roots to create and unprecedented live music and dance show of flamenco in dialogue with jíbaro music and poetry (décima, ten stanza form) from the mountains of Puerto Rico.
The performances were presented in DanzActiva’s performance venue (Tablao de Paulette) and filmed by the international Spanish RTVE channel (TENDERETE show).
Carlos Bedoya created and composed for this concept in which Beauchamp collaborated as dancer/choreographer; featuring: Tony Mapeyé, Modesto Nieves (Puerto Rico) and flamenco singer José Luis Giles from Málaga, Spain.
Dance studio and performance space
DanzActiva, located at the Historic Ballajá Barracks in Old San Juan, has two spaces: a dance studio and a performance space.
The dance studio, that offers classical and folkloric dance classes, is also where choreographic works are developed.
The performance space named “Tablao de Paulette” is a venue that presents high caliber artists from diverse forms of art, such as dance, music, theater, poetry, etc, and is also known for sponsoring emerging artists and opening its doors to peers and art activists who want to hold ‘tertulias’, collaborate and discuss public issues.
Among the organization’s many significant accomplishments, one very close to their hearts is DanzActiva’s Special Program which has, for 24 years, offered dance classes for people with Down Syndrome, Autism and other developmental conditions.
This program has created an inclusive, creative space that integrates well recognized professional dancers and musicians with young dancers with special needs.
DanzaÉ dancersFlamboyan Arts Fund
This program has created an inclusive, creative space that integrates well recognized professional dancers and musicians with young dancers with special needs.
DanzActiva’s long trajectory of artistic excellence and community work through the arts provides an environment for physical activity, the learning of new skills, socialization and individual artistic expression.
DanzActivas’s proven methodology of using Bomba (Puerto Rican African folk dance) challenges participants to improvise to live percussion as they visually communicate with the drummer, who is following the dancer in real time.
DanzaÉ
DanzaÉ (pronounced danza eh!) is an award winning program whose core group of talented dancers have performed internationally and have collaborated with similar european dance projects for the differently abled.
