Let’s Flip for Dance Planet 16 Featuring Emmy Nominated Dallas-Born Choreographer Teresa Espinosa
by Jonathan Bostick I
would say that if the art I create were a food, it would be a stew. For me, dance is more than just steps, it’s about how it all marinates together and comes out with a distinct flavor and a distinct message. It all comes down to expression. - Teresa Espinosa
Every year, Dance Planet, features guest artists who come and share their style of dance with the community. This year, Planet 16, is thrilled to bring in Dallas native, and successful hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Teresa Espinosa. Most known by the public for her work with the dance crew “Beat Freaks” on America’s Best Dance Crew Season 3. Teresa has been a staple in the Los Angeles dance community for years. She got her start as a dancer on Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope Tour and had a blast performing across five continents. Moreover, she was nominated for an Emmy Award as a contributing choreographer for the HBO Special, The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden. Teresa has also worked as a choreographer with Brittney Spears and on the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. Her impressive resume includes touring with Brittney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Pink, Rihana, Mariah Carey, and Selena Gomez. Among the many things Teresa plans to teach and share with the community is the idea that if a young person wants to have a dance career, they need to coura- geously believe in their talent, expose themselves to dance of all kinds, and seize every performance opportunity.
Pictured: Teresa Espinosa
“It all comes down to listening to what’s the right path for you,” says Teresa. “I started in modern, jazz, and ballet training but ended up having a career in hip-hop. There is no wrong answer; it’s just about finding what speaks to your heart.”
Planet 16 is a great platform for Teresa and Dallas is lucky to have her. Since its inception, the mission of Planet 16 has been to show- case dance from all around the world, giving students and the pub- lic an opportunity to discover what particular dance styles they identify with. Different dance styles are like different kinds of food. We all like food, but depending on the individual, there are some cuisines we really fall in love with.
Pictured: African Drummers in Planet 15 Showcase. Photo: Daniel Fermaint Photography
page 14 February 2012
www.thedancecouncil.org
At sixteen years old, a generation of dancers has grown up perform- ing and participating at Dance Planet. That is why it so special that Teresa Espinosa is such a great artist: she’s from Dallas like many of the people who will attend the festival. And at its heart, Planet is a communal effort produced by the Dance Council of North Texas and made possible in part by title sponsor Heritage Galleries and support from BTWHSPVA, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Dallas Arts District Foundation, The Downtown Business News, DANCE! NORTH TEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas
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