In a special effort to raise awareness about the Braswell Arts Center Virtual Benefit Gala, we are proud to present this years featured artists.

Who are you? And a bit about your training and experience?

From Valencia, Spain, Alba began her dance career at the age of 17 with Teatres de la Generalitat Valenciana dance company. In 2007, she joined the Compañia Nacional de Danza 2 under the leadership of Nacho Duato, and after, she was a soloist with the Ballet Theater Basel. During her dance career Alba has originated roles in and performed in works by world renowned choreographers. As a choreographer Alba was awarded in different International and renowned competitions such as Copenhagen International Choreography Competition, Synodales – Concours Chorégraphique Contemporain or Beijing Ballet and Choreography Competition for her work among others.

Alba has created original works for Scapino Ballet Rotterdam(Netherlands) and Opèra National du Rhin (France), Theater St.Gallen (Switzerland) or Philadelphia Ballet (USA). With upcoming commissions for Ballet Bremerhaven (Germany), and Austinmer Dance Theatre (Australia).

What inspires you?

You can find inspiration everywhere.

Tell us about the work you are presenting or dancing in?

Remember me, like this is an existing work by Company Snorkel Rabbit, choreographed by Alba Castillo. The work premiered on July 18, 2019 at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China. It participated in the Beijing International Choreography Competition, where it won 1st prize and the audience award.  The 15-minute composition is the result of an investigation into how traumatic experiences affect our physical and mental development. It explores how these past events affect our personal and collective connection and give meaning to our lives. The first part of the composition was dedicated to collecting personal memories. We used a combination of writing and drawing as a means to discover hidden emotions associated with the memories. We used our notes and illustrations as a guide for our movement research. This process helped to find the context and structure of the work. The second part of the creation was experimenting with moments of improvisation within the choreographed composition. The artists were given the freedom to create spontaneously and perform without preparation. The decision to compose a work that included both choreographed movement and improvisation came from a desire to connect the present with the past. The present is the improvisation and the past is the choreographed movement. 

Remember me, like this utilizes improvisational tasks to analyze our intuitive and intellectual responses to past experiences. Investigating ways in which past events affect our personal and collective connection as well as bring meaning to our lives. The composition explores themes of fear, courage, mortality and acceptance.

Please help us raise awareness about the Braswell Arts Center Virtual Benefit Gala, we need your support to reach our campaign goal for the new Braswell Arts Center at Aeschenplatz. Join us if you can!