A la première, à la deuxième, à la troisième...

The latest Maria Piedad’s choreography is entitled  "A la première, à la deuxième, troisième à la ..." music by Philip Glass.  This piece was presented for the Master's Dance Concert 2013, Dance Education Program of New York University NYU, November 16^th and 17^th, at the Frederick Loewe Theatre in New York City .

The dancers, NYU Steinhardt/Tisch master’s students, performed a contemporary ballet piece with a psychological theme. The aim was to explore the experiences and feelings of what it means to be a woman; its femininity, independence, thoughts, conscious, subconscious and emotional worlds and personal, intrapersonal and social relationships as well. This dance work was carried out in an environment of artistic collaboration. The primary choreographic exploration started more than five months ago and it was complemented by the academic research done by Maria Piedad for her Master’s thesis. 

A la première, à la deuxième, à la troisième...

Photography by James Alonzo White

Maria Piedad completed her ABT/NTC full teaching certification

María Piedad completed her American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum full teaching certification.

In an intensive workshop taught by the ABT maîtres Raymond Lukens y Franco De Vita,  María Piedad could exchanged ideas and experiences about ballet pedagogy with different artists who came from different places of Europe, Asia and America; as well as, with former ABT dancers. After presenting her theoretical and practical tests to the director of the ABT Studio Company, Miss Kate Lydon, who is an ABT/NTC examinator, María Piedad was given the full mark for her certification. In this way, she became the first Ecuadorian dance artist who is fully certified in the ABT/NTC teaching method. Now, she is allowed to teach all ABT's levels of training including pre-primary, primary, level 1 to 7, including partnering (pas de deux). 

Undoubtedly, this is a great accomplishment in her career that also represents a great responsibility, as it happened years ago when she became the first artist from Ecuador who graduated as a ballet, character and historical dance teacher from the National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba. 

Artists who attended the level 6,7 and partnering ABT/NTC certification course

Maria Piedad´s choreography demo

This video shows excerpts of Maria Piedad´s work as choreographer. Different styles performed by students and professionals. Enjoy it.

Maria Piedad´s choroegraphy demo

The Dance World Cup in Montreal

           Maria Piedad was one of the judges at the Dance World Cup in Montreal. This international dance competition was held in the theater La cinquiéme salle at the artistic complex Le Place des Arts in Montreal from July 8th to July 10th. Dancers from different countries, such as Canada, United States, Indonesia, Portugal, Japan, China, Rusia and others were there to show their artistry and technique in differente dance styles. Coreographies of ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, folk, acorbatics, theatre dance, and other styles  were presented to the audience. Rather than being just a dance competition, The Dance World Cup 2013 was a beautiful show.

The 34th International Dance Council CID-UNESCO World Congress: Dance is our voice

      The Montreal Section of the International Dance Council CID, in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the CID in Athens, Greece organized the CID World Congress in Canada. It was placed under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the National UNESCO Commission, and the City Council of Montreal.

       Maria Piedad participated in this congress taking part in all the artistic event and scientific conferences which were held at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal from July 3rd through July 7th. She also taught a master ballet class which followed the American Ballet Theatre´s  National Training Curriculum methodology.

       CID Canada brought together CID members of the International Dance Community of various backgrounds and countries. It was a scientific conference, as well as a trade fair. It was a participatory event, facilitating contacts with colleagues through a sharing of knowledge and experiences.

       CID congresses are the largest gatherings of dance specialists world-wide, the best opportunity to showcase one's work to a wide audience of practitioners, dance teachers, choreographers, researchers, journalists, organizers and suppliers. Approximately 400 conferees from 40 countries of the 5 continents attend each congress.

       All forms of dance are represented. It is strictly non-profit, and is not to be confused with festivals, workshops, competitions, forums or open conferences. There are no observers or invited guests, only registered CID members can attend the morning and afternoon sessions. Spectators can attend the evening performances only.

Classical training in contemporary dancers

About Nederlands Dans Theater... "I would say 95 percent of the dancers there are classical trained.." Paul Lightfoot

Interview with Paul Lightfoot on Dance Channel

"You know, the older I get I don´t come into the studio with pre-conceived ideas, it´s impossible..."

How Jiri Kylián describes his rehearsals and the creation of a new work

Bella Figura Rehearsal (excerpts)

"I make choreography because I can not say things with words..."

Interview with choreographer Jiri Kylián before the premiere of his work Bella Figura   Interview with Jiri Kylián

Contemporary Ballet

       Is it possible to talk about a complete different style called Contemporary Ballet? Is it possible to locate choreographers and dance pieces under this name?  Certainly, there are many choreographers who have created exquisite vanguardist and contemporary works using dancers with a strong ballet technique. Are the concepts or complex movements inside these choreographies what make them contemporary? Is the use of a strong ballet technique, which later is transformed, that makes them ballet?  Many thoughts are coming...

Petite Mort, Netherlands Dance Theater, choreography by Jiri Kylian

Collaborative Projects in the Performing Arts

          Collaborating interdisciplinary is the key to produce interesting and innovating artistic products. Music, Dance, Design, Technology and others could be together in the same stage. Moreover, remote locations could be connected through internet. In this way, the boundaries between artists around the world are broken. Currently, it is possible to produce artistically without the limitations of space and time. Artists think differently now thanks to technology. This is a performance presented as the final project of the class Collaborative Projects in the Performing Arts, at NYU Steinhardt Music Technology program.

Collaborative projects in the Performing Arts/rehearsal and performance (Part A)

COMING SOON!!!

WE ARE WORKING ON THE ENGLISH VERSION.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE

Maria Piedad

Maria Piedad Paredes L. is an Ecuadorian choreographer and dance teacher who has developed her artistic career for 13 years in her country and abroad.

Ballet has been her first passion and inspiration. Through it, she has met different dance styles and new forms of creating dance.

Exploring new ways of communicating artistically, collaborating interdisciplinary, dance researching, teaching and choreographing are some of her core purposes