I wear many hats; I am a professional dancer, Dance Historian and Critic, a Romani studies Scholar, a Flamenco historian, sociologist, curator and peace activist.
Personal Background
I grew up and received my education in the US. I lived in various parts of the world as a professional dancer, choreographer, sociologist and qualified teacher.
I collaborated with many great Flamenco artists and various leaders in the Dance field. I have taught throughout Europe and the US at places like UW-Madison, UIUC, Boston Conservatory, Brown University and at various other places in Germany, Spain and Turkey. In the UK, I danced with Protein Dance Company. As a dance writer, I made regular contributions to Bachtrack magazine and Flamenco News.
As a researcher and an activist, I am involved in and leading various EU funded projects some of which aim to make education accessible to vulnerable groups and ethnic minorities. I believe that dance and music are great equalisers and can be used to engage and change society towards a more peaceful world.
Career
I have devoted my life to Dance and Education. Working towards a B.F.A. in Dance at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, an MA in Dance History and Criticism at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, and a PhD. in Sociology from the University of Barcelona, I have embraced a viewpoint that places movement at the core of my culture, art, experiences, and future. I use dance, history, activism, and education to communicate, share, and inspire others, young and old, to use me as the springboard for their own development and creative journey. My heritage allows me to have empathy, passion, compassion, and a critical eye to the world that surrounds us. Teaching is my inspiration to create in the world, reflect on the world, as well as address issues of social injustice, race, class, and gender inequalities.
I am a research-artist at Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) and also work as an independent artist, dancer, curator and teacher. I collaborate often with the University of Barcelona’s Community of Researcher’s for Excellence for All (CREA). Communicative research methods and dialogic teaching are integral parts of my career. My PhD examined Romani women, dialogic feminism and intersectionality.
Research Interests
I enjoy interdisciplinary and collaborative modes of working. The combination of the practical and the theoretical underpins all of my research interests and I seek to create synergies by bringing people together. Working with vulnerable groups and using the arts and education to engage communities and move them towards a more inclusive society is what I hope to achieve with my academic research. Cultural heritage and digital technologies are also key parts of my current practice.
Samples of different projects that look at cultural heritage, dance, education or archives.
Film Production Company
RosaSenCis Film Production Company has been set up to take on small to medium scale film projects. Our focus is mainly on producing films that look at dance, arts, cultural heritage, oral history, vulnerable groups and the Roma community. Based in the UK but working closely with organisations in Europe. The company also runs several podcast series and has collaborated with local, national and international institutions, artists, NGOs and companies. Some examples below.