Daniel Quat Photography

ART and ECOLOGY in AMAZONS : A Call for Support

A message from Rulan Tangen, Founding Artistic Director/Choreographer of DANCING EARTH :

"THE EPIC INVITATION “ I am so honored to announce that I have been chosen from over 245 applicants from 45 countries, to join a gathering of artists, invited to the Amazonian rainforest, to meet with local community groups, environmental activists, scientists, and women’s rights advocates, to participate in expeditions, workshop exchanges, and artistic interventions. These activities are intended to share practices, listen to relevant issues, create performances on site together with community and return home to develop the shared content into performances to share these stories. The “main goal is to promote artistic creation through a constructive debate about environmental issues supported by theory, data and life experiences in the Amazon rainforest”. This is a “ multidisciplinary platform for the development of critical thinking about nature and ecology. Artists, activists, indigenous, scientists and other agents of knowledge come together to recognize and narrate nature, in an attempt to create new ways of existing and interacting with the natural environment, as well as to speculate on possible futures.” This comes at a significant moment mid-life , and I am humbled that my gifts can be of service to this great vision.

HOW THESE CREATIVE SEEDS WILL BE SHARED

This August, I am inspired to join this invite only residency drawing from lived eco-somatic research , the first iterations of my new work in progress that is in early stages of vision called “ The RITUAL of RE:MIX : an eco elegy series”.

This will be greeted with Bay Area artists to be shown in Yelamu ( San Francisco ) in September, with another version made with local community in Southern California for sharing in October, and further iterations evolving with other places and peoples.

I am the only dancer selected, and was told that these communities LOVE movement ! I am also the only English speaker of the group , so movement will indeed be the primary language of communication !

FUNDRAISING GOAL

To take the burden of hosting off of the host communities, we are being asked to fundraise for costs. The goal is 5900 by June 1 so that flights can be purchased in advance to get best rate.

$ 3500.00 towards the costs of hospitality ( accommodations, high quality locally grown/prepared food, translator, meeting space, cultural protocols etc. )
$ 1400.00 for airfare
$ 500.00 Travel insurance
$ 500.00 for special gear for this environment

If you have capacity, I embrace your support, which is not only for me, but for inter-cultural exchange that financially benefits the host communities , and their efforts on behalf of their home environment.

Speculative Ecologies

MY COMMITMENT TO SHARE

If I raise more than this amount, or am able to save on any of the above items ( such as : being loaned gear, or donated frequent flier mileage ) , any additional funds will go towards the development of RITUAL of RE:MIX eco elegy series, and additional international cultural exchange invitations including to Mexico next spring. Those who know me know of my dedication to making opportunities for others, and sharing anything that comes my way !

MY THANKS
I thank you so much for consideration of support of this invitation to the rainforest , the lungs of this planet, and I look forward to sharing about the experience !

With gratitude,
Rulan Solis Diala Tangen

To Learn More About Dancing Earth Click Here
DANCING EARTH CREATIONS dynamically activates our mission, to create contemporary dance and related arts through global indigenous and intercultural relationships centered on ecological and cultural diversity for creativity, health, and wellness.

Founded by Artistic Director Rulan Tangen, to serve a need rarely met in the USA, DEC gives hope and opportunity to Native, mixed, global Indigenous, and BIPOC talent who have been largely outside the dialogue of mainstream performance because of lack of access. DEC is an organic constellation of largely self-taught dancers, composers, costumers, filmmakers, and spoken word artists.

Together, DEC artists work with community members, culture carriers, and Native elders to explore the rich diversity of ancestral heritage, contemporary identity, and intra-cultural relationship building, by collaborating on innovative ecologically themed performances. DEC’s work promotes environmental awareness, cultural diversity, and understanding between peoples through contemporary art expressions.

“We gather as individual artists to create experimental yet elemental dances that reflect our rich cultural heritage as contemporary global peoples. We strive to embody the unique essences of cultural perspectives through the creation and renewal of artistic and cultural movement rituals. Ancient and futuristic, our dances are an elemental language of bone and blood memory in motion.” - Founding Director, Rulan Tangen

Dancing Earth is respectfully based in Ogaa Po Ogeh – occupied Tewa territory known as Santa Fe, NM and Yelamu – occupied Ohlone territory known as San Francisco, CA and are honored to bring this production here to the homelands of the Ute people: we are honored that this new work emerges from land and sky that has been danced and sung into renewal by First Nations people of the Southwest since the beginning of time, and this vision includes contributions of respected and beloved cultural community members.

ART and ECOLOGY in AMAZONS : A Call for Support

Team Members