A Unique Movement of Global Community
Desiree Fabian | Staff Writer
Global Motion World Dance Company has toured the world for over 30 years, showcasing and highlighting global cultural unity through the act of dance. The group, comprised of Santa Monica College’s (SMC) faculty and students, uses its platform each new semester to allow students to learn about the study of bodily movement in different cultures. Their latest show premiered at BroadStage in Santa Monica on Nov. 18.
“We are coming from many different cultures, and everyone has something unique and important to offer,” said co-artistic director Sri Susilowati. “We are here as a community, together.”
Susilowati and co-artistic director Raquel Ramírez have worked together on Global Motion productions for almost 15 years. The show leaves a pivotal mark on the SMC dance program season, giving dancers, new and returning, the opportunity to learn different techniques and histories. The performances are never the same, presenting different cultures and alternating the chosen custom and traditions. The night is jam-packed with powerfully crafted pieces that deliver a life-affirming message.
“Communities come together in dance. It doesn't matter what type of dance or where you come from, you understand dance by looking at it,” said Ramírez. “You know the feeling of community when you see it.”
Dance has existed for as long as humans have roamed the earth. From simply stomping the ground to limbs moving with fluidity, the performing art is as much a part of human history as the cave art findings from the Stone Age.
For some decades now, dance styles that are characteristic of a particular cultural group have been referred to as “world dance” in the West. In recent years, however, the term has come under scrutiny due to its perceived exclusionary, vague, and Euro-centric point of view, and implication that these styles don’t belong on mainstream stages. Global Motion rejects that idea, portraying inclusivity and beauty with eleven pieces of raw expression that celebrate global dance traditions.
The night begins with a spirited Sundanese peacock dance titled ‘Tari Merak,’ choreographed by R. Tjetje Somantri and re-staged by Susilowati. The piece encapsulates the beauty of colorful poise in the peacock’s magnetic nature with soft but firm movements. As the night continues, performances inspired by French, West African, and Mexican cultures are performed, culminating on the presentation of “The Theatre of My Mind,” created by SMC student choreographers and dancers Liam Gifkins, Micah Klassen, and Heather Ongpauco.
In an intricate timelapse of life-changing moments in human life expressed through dance, Klassen describes “The Theatre of My Mind” as a mixture of the movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and the television show “Euphoria.”
“We see each other go through our mental challenges, realizing we want to escape to another reality, but the reality is the one we live in is the one that we love and we should appreciate,” said Klassen.
First-year SMC student Armani Mateus performed in the Hawaiian/Tahitian-inspired piece “Hōkūleʻa” and Cuban-inspired “Tardeada” in the second half of the night’s performances. She shared about her experience and newfound perception after performing with Global Motion for the first time.
“Getting to know the phrases and true meaning behind the dance just opens your eyes to a new perspective and gives you a newfound passion for each number you do, especially salsa, which digs deep into my heritage,” said Mateus. “Getting to know that part of myself is eye-opening, and my family's really proud of me.”
Beginner and intermediate dance classes are open to all students at the SMC Dance Department, and auditions for the next Global Motion production will take place during the first week of classes in Feb. 2024.
