Monday, October 15, 2018

Inside Beauty: Maija Garcia

EXCELcast: Maija Garcia on Storytelling through Dance

Maija Garcia, Director / Choreographer REEL

Maija Garci

89.1 WEMU
All Things Considered

creative:impact - Creating A Career Path In Dance, Choreography And Acting

  OCT 2, 2018
Maija Garcia
CREDIT MAJIA GARCIA / ORGANICMAGNETICS.COM
Washtenaw County's artistic influence can spread all across the country. One former Ann Arbor resident is a prime example.  In this week's "creative:impact," WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich talk to director/choreographer Maija Garcia, who was just appointed director of professional training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

Deb Polich, President and CEO of The Arts Alliance
Creative industries in Washtenaw County add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy.  In the weeks and months to come, 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and co-host Deb Polich, the President and CEO of The Arts Alliance, explore the myriad of contributors that make up the creative sector in Washtenaw County. 
About Maija Garcia
Maija Garcia
CREDIT MAIJA GARCIA / ORGANICMAGNETICS.COM
Maija Garcia is a Cuban-American director and choreographer whose signature work is featured in Guthrie Theater's new production of West Side Story, directed by Joe Haj, Spike Lee’s Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It and the film Chi-Raq.  Director of Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha in Havana, Cuba, Heather Henson’s CRANE and Legend of Yauna with Marie Daulne (Zap Mama).
Choreographic works include Hatuey, a Cuban-Yiddish Opera at Montclair Peak Performances, Cuba Libre at Artists Repertory Theater, Another Word for Beauty at the Goodman Theater and Fats Waller Dance Party with Jason Moran and Meshell N'degeocello at Harlem Stage and Kennedy Center. 
Garcia worked alongside Bill T. Jones to choreograph the Tony Award winning musical FELA! On Broadway, and as creative director of FELA! World Tour and FELA! The Concert.
A graduate of California Institute of Integral Studies with a BA in Sustainable Development, Garcia founded Organic Magnetics and produced Ghosts of Manhattan: 1512-2012 an interactive history in Fort Tryon Park and I Am NY: Juan Rodriguez at El Museo del Barrio. 
Maija Garcia
CREDIT MAIJA GARCIA / ORGANICMAGNETICS.COM
Newly named director of professional training at Guthrie Theater, Garcia is relocating to Minneapolis to direct BFA Acting, MFA Guthrie Experience and Fellowship programs to advance early career professionals in all areas of theater production, performing arts and artistic leadership. 
Resources:
Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU today to keep your community NPR station thriving.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU.  You can contact David at 734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu