12:00 pm -5:00 pm. Chris will teach, perform, and talk about his career working with the best in the dance business.
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Executive Director of TITAS, Charles Santos reflects: “At Booker T., Chris was very sweet, very talented and young but danced with maturity. He just wanted to dance. Today, I see a vibrant artist that’s danced around the world with depth in his dancing and a clear focus on his artistic path. His spirit is open and generous and he never forgets where he came from.”
Dance Planet holds many memorable experiences for Chris. From the time he started dancing in 4th grade through his days at BTWHSP- VA, Chris was at this free, annual dance festival—performing, tak- ing classes, and volunteering. As it was known then, “Dance for the Planet” took place outdoors on the spacious lawns of Annette Strauss Artist Square. The festival consisted of classes in tents, art and food vendors on the walkways, dancers warming up along the
Pictured: Teresa Espinosa teaching a Master Class at Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography
stage, and audiences sitting on blankets or lawn chairs enjoying the performances. On the hour were 7-Minute Globals where everyone was encouraged to dance the electric slide or the wave, do a basic swing step or join in a conga line.
Chris recalls, “I remember Chuck Davis. I remember the Arts District—Annette Strauss Square coming alive with dancers and supporters of dance. I remember the incredible sense of community and feeling so connected to the city through dance. I remember working in the soda stands. I remember laying Marley for some of the events. I remember looking forward to it every year.”
Pictured: Ballroom dancers at Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography page 14
February 2013
www.thedancecouncil.org
BTWHSPVA Dance Coordinator Lily Cabatu Weiss remarks “As a student at Arts, Chris was always willing to try anything, to take advantage of every master class, and to be a risk-taker. When you see him now, you cannot imagine Chris falling and rolling across the floor every time he lost his balance in class. His senior choreog- raphy was a preview of his creative talents. Since then we have commissioned several works from Chris; each work demonstrates sensitivity to musicality and an innate ability to showcase the tal- ents of his dancers, while allowing his giving soul to shine through the work. Chris has always been a graduate who gives back to the community who he feels gave him so much. It is so appropriate that he is the 2013 Dance Planet guest artist, the event that is about community.”
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas vol. 16 • no. 1
WELCOME HOME to Dance Planet 17
he Dance Planet 17 headliner is the remarkably talented New York dancer, dance and fitness teacher, choreog- rapher and Dallas native, Christopher Vo. As a gradu- ate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) and The Juilliard School, Chris comes home to blaze a trail at Dance Planet. Mark your calendars for April 6, 2013 from 9:30 am-5:00 pm and April 7, 2013 from
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