Un grande personaggio della danza mondiale a Riccione per un'edizione speciale di Riccione Estate Danza. Mancano ancora quattro mesi all'evento della danza internazionale al Palazzo dei Congressi e in piazzale Roma per il concorso Dancexperience, dove in giuria la partecipazione straordinaria di Theresa Ruth Howard.
Dancer/Writer/Teacher
Theresa Ruth Howard began her professional career with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company at the age of twelve. In 1989 joined Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Africa.
She has worked with choreographer Donald Byrd as a soloist in his staging of New York City Opera's Carmina Burana, his critically acclaimed Harlem Nutcracker, as well as the controversial domestic violence work The Beast.
In 2004 she was a founding member of Armitage Gone Dance! Premiering Time is the Echo of the Axe within the Wood at the Joyce Theater, and performed at Biennale Festival in Venice, Italy.
In 2007 she left the company but has stayed connected with choreographer Karole Armitage and the dancers when acting as rehearsal directress.
In addition participated in the 10th anniversary season of Complexions: A Concept in Dance as a guest artist.
As a writer Ms. Howard has contributed to Russell Simmons’ One World magazine (art), and The Source (social politics), as well as Pointe and Dance Magazines (Dance), and is working on the completion of her first work of fiction.
In 2002 at the Tribeca Theater and Bronx Academy of Artists and Dancers, Ms. Howard presented the first installment of a one-woman work that highlights her multi-faceted talent Anonymous Superstar: All dressed up and nowhere to go… is poignant and comical, infused with both classical and pop references.
The production was written and choreographed by Ms. Howard and inspired by the likes of Degas, Dorothy Parker, and her life experiences.
As a teacher Ms. Howard has been an Artist in Residence at Hollins University in Roanoke Virginia and taught at Sarah Lawrence and Marymount Colleges, Shenandoah, and Radford Universities.
In 1999 she joined the faculty of the historical American Dance Festival, working with the Young Dancers Program.
As a result of her work at ADF Ms. Howard was invited to Sochi, Russia to adjudicate the arts competition and teach master classes at Expectations of Europe in January 2001.
In July of 2002 she traveled to Burundi, Africa where she coached and taught the Burundi Dance Company then continued on to Hamilton, Bermuda to work with United Dance Productions where she taught a summer intensive which included Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Personal Development.
Ms. Howard has worked with the Ailey Camp (Bridgeport Connecticut) as a Ballet instructor, and Ailey Camp Too! Teaching Creative Communications.
She is currently on faculty in the Ailey School.
Ms. Howard's belief in the development, and nurturing of children lead her to work with at risk youth. At the Jacob Riis Settlement House in Queensbridge New York, she founded S.I.S.T.A (Socially Intelligent Sisters Taking Action) a mentoring program for teen-age girls where she was able to provide them with both support and council, while empowering them to become the creators of their destinies. In addition she developed a dance program, which lead to an exchange with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Through her teaching travels Ms. Howard began to observe a universal disenchantment and disconnection in teenagers that disturbed her, so she set out to address it.
Combining her philosophies of life and teaching, with the skills she garnered through outreach programs with diverse communities, she developed the personal development workshop Principles of Engagement: Connecting youth to the infinite possibilities within.
Designed to help teenagers analyze some of their ineffective behavior, breakdowns in comprehension and communication, and integrity in approach and attack, the workshop encourages them to investigate their personal process of learning and illustrates how they can become proactive in their progress through Accountability.
Principles of Engagement gives teens a set of workable tools to increase their levels of success at tasks, and goals not only in dance, and all aspect of their lives.
Theresa Ruth Howard is certainly diverse and multifaceted as an artist, and is moved to both write and create work; however she sees every student she encounters as a work in progress, and the potential to change the world one person at a time.
The only was to make this world a better place it to be better people in it!
Theresa Ruth Howard
“I do not teach dance, I teach life”
Using the forum of dance, I have developed a holistic method of teaching which addresses not only physical mastery, but mastery of self by helping students investigate and understand their personal learning process. “I don’t teach you, you teach you”.
My philosophy encourages them to take control of their progress by charging them to be proactive and accountable for their improvement. This instills a new sense of ownership to the word ”empowerment”.
By developing and authenticity and integrity of commitment and work ethic, students are able to analyze both effective and ineffective behavior, as well as breakdowns in comprehension and communication in order to eradicate or replicate them moving forward.
Culling the information from my experiences dancing and teaching, I have created a workshop based on this philosophy: Principles of Engagement. The techniques and values embodied in the workshop gives participants a set of workable tools that they can call upon to increase their levels of success not only in dance but also in life
“Life is problem solving and Dance is a physical puzzle. If one can fall in love with problem solving one cannot only fall in love with dance, but with life itself!”
TEACHING
Alvin Ailey School
New York 2003-
Professional Performing Arts (2004)/ Ailey School (Present)
• Ailey II Company class, Junior and Professional divisions: Ballet/Pointe levels 3B-7. Classes focus on basic placement (pelvis, torso, rotation, Port de Bras) with special attention to petite allegro, muscular musicality, spatial awareness, and personal artistry
(PPAS- Ballet level 2B. Conducted Principles of Engagement workshop for student body) Athletic Boys Program (2003-06) Ballet Basics for boys ages 7-11
Italian Stages- Master classes in Ballet 2007-2009
• DanzaMaremito – Ascea (Summer)
• In Danza Porto San Giorgio / Giselle Danza (Fall/Summer)
• International Dance Association- Ravenna (Spring)
• Artgarage- Pozzuli (Fall)
• ArteStudio- Salerno (Fall)
• Ganxhe- Volta Mantovana (Fall)
Earl Mosely’s Institute for the Arts July 2007
• Ballet-Classes focus on basic placement (pelvis, torso, rotation, Port de Bras) with special attention to petite allegro, muscular musicality, spatial awareness, and personal artistry
University of New Haven
New Haven Connecticut Spring 2007 Artist in Residence Fall 2007
• Lecture: Diversity and Racial Politics in Dance
• Guest lecturer in classes of Sociology, Russian, African American literature, Theater.
• Conducted master classes with NHU students as well as with students of the Betsy Ross Elementary school, including a lecture on dance.
Celine Dion’s A New Day
Las Vegas NV 2006
• Company class for dancers (Ballet)
Marymount Manhattan College
New York Fall/Spring 2005
• Level V Ballet with a focus on pelvic placement, rotation and muscular musicality, artistry and performance techniques
Principles of Engagement Workshop
New York 2005 (PPAS- Ailey School 2004-2007/ 2005 independent held at Rod Roder’s dance)
• This workshop teaches personal development through dance using the principles of engagement: Accountability, Connectivity, Expansion, Detailing. Participants experience the application of these principles through their bodies.
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA 2003
• One week workshop that investigated the connective elements between numerous dance techniques (ballet, modern, release) with a focus on how to deconstruct choreographic phrases and applying the appropriate technical elements required
United Dance Production
Hamilton, Bermuda August 2002
• One month summer intensive, including Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop
Burundi Dance Company
Burundi, Africa June 2002
• Choreographic consultant collaborating with the director to incorporate Modern dance movement with traditional Burundian dance.
Dance Theatre of Harlem/Dancing Through Barriers
New York, NY Fall 2001
• Participated in outreach program that brought dance to elementary school children in the public school system. The creative movement classes concentrated on physical discipline, focus, basic dance movements, musicality, and the ability to work in groups.
Alvin Ailey Camp Too!
New York, NY Fall 2001
• Through group discussion and writing Creative Communication helped participants express their opinions, and feelings about their lives, relationships and the world they live in.
Alvin Ailey Camp
Bridgeport, Conn. Summer 2001
• Ballet technique - Six-week summer intensive for teen non-dancers culminating in a final dance performance. Choreographed Ballet in the Hood.
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY Spring 2001
• Ballet with a focus on pelvic placement, rotation and muscular musicality, artistry and performance techniques
Expectations of Europe
Sochi, Russia 2001 Zlataoust 2007, Sochi 2008
• Competition Juror for Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical. Conducted Ballet master classes. Panelist for symposium: Contemporary Dance in Russia
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA 1998-2000
• Artist in Residence teaching ballet with a concentration on how modern dancers should approach the ballet technique: placement, body facings, spatial and technical specificity, finding the connections between ballet and other dance techniques.
American Dance Festival
Durham, NC 1999-2000
• Four-week school. Ballet technique
Halestone Dance Company
Lexington, VA 2000
• One week intensive for school: Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop. Conducted Principles of Engagement workshop. Choreographed A.D.D for company.
Radford University
Radford, VA 2000
• Ballet Master class
Shenandoah University
Shenandoah, VA 1999
• Ballet Master Class
Roanoke Ballet Theater
Roanoke, VA 1998-1999
• Ballet levels intermediate/advanced. Choreographic workshop with company: And then there were none
WRITING
Dance Magazine – Contributing
• Improving Stage Presence (December 2008)
• Sylvia Waters Dance Magazine Award Recipient Profile (November 2008)
• Breaking into Teaching (September 2008)
• See and Say- Dancemedia.com With Wendy Perron and Theresa Ruth Howard
• Rant and Rave: What’s in a Name? (Feb.2008)
• What you Wish You Knew/Dance in the Next 80 years (80th Anniversary Issue Sept 2007)
• Across the Floor: On the Ball (Oct. 2007)
• Beyond the Strip: Navigating the Las Vegas Job Scene (March 2007)
• Rant & Rave: Black-a-rina Body of Mind (July 2006)
• What About the Solo Artist? (January 2003)
• Classic Ailey (August 2003)
• Review: Full Circle Productions Victory Theater (February 2003)
Pointe Magazine
• A Number and a Dream: Aspen/ Santa Fe Ballet Auditions (February/March 2003)
• Dancers Working: Joffrey Ensemble (April/ May 2003)
• Dancers Working: Terra firma Dance Theatre (August/ September 2003)
• Dancers Working: Royal Flanders Ballet (August/ September 2002) Dancers
• Shoe Biz: How to judge a pointe shoe (April/May 2002)
• Dancers Working: Royal Winnipeg Ballet (April/May 2002)
• Working: BalletMet Columbus (June/July 2002)
Expressions
• Dancing in the City: (January 2009)
• How to take a Stage (August (2009)
The Source Magazine
• Where there’s a WILL: Women in Literature and Letters (July 1998)
• Straight Outta Brooklyn: Community Justice Program (April 1998)
• Talkin’ White: interview with Courtney Mann (March 1998)
• Bad Boys: Police Brutality across the country (December 1997)
• Settin’ it Off: Female offenders juvenile offenders, crimes best kept secret crimes (August 1997)
• Stunning Accessories: Electronic stun devices for prisoners (October 1997)
STAGE
Jacob’s Pillow Gala Armitage Gone! Dance 2006
Time is the Echo (Duet)
Armitage Gone! Dance (Karole Armitage) Duke Theater 2005
In this Dream that Dogs Me
Complexions 10th Anniversary (Dwight Rhoden) Skirball Theater 2004
Blue/Tingle/Nitty Gritty Suite
Beinnale Festival Venice Armitage Gone! Dance 2004
Echoes from the Street
Anonymous Superstar: (Theresa R.Howard) BAAD 2003
All dressed up and no where to go Tribeca Theater BBMC 2003
Physual (Richard Rivera) APAP Jan. 2002
Café Tabac
Jacob’s Pillow (Francesca Harper) June 2002
Fragile Stone Theory
Donald Byrd/The Group (Donald Byrd) 2001
The Beast
Bopi’s Blacksheep/ (Kraig Patterson) 2001
Broken
Manale Fashion Show (Robert Garland) Fall 2000
Model/Actress
Harlem Nutcracker (Donald Byrd) 1997-1999
Death/Dewdrop/Cigarette Girl/
Sugar Rum
New York City Opera (Donald Byrd) 1997-1998
Carmina Burana Demi-Soloist
It's One World Brittawear (Britta Stielman) 1995
Fashion show/Soloist
Nutcracker (Eglefsky Ballet) 1993
Lead Snow/Spanish
Dance Theatre of Harlem (Arthur Mitchell) 1989-1993
Corps de Ballet
NYC Metropolitan Opera
Porgy and Bess- Lead Dancer 1989
Philadelphia Civic Ballet (Alicia Craig) 1983
Corps de Ballet
TV/Commercial/Film
11 WOMEN- ANGELO MUSCO
Video Installation (2006)
• Actress – Pregnant woman
Coke Zero (Spain)
MJZ Productions 2006
• Assistant to the Choreographer. Generated movement phrases, casting, taught choreography, rented studio space, scheduled rehearsals, managed and organized dancers both in studio and on set. Liaison between choreographer and Production Company, dancers and stylist. Acted as stand in when choreographer was not on set.
Mike & Mattie
ABC 1994
• Lifestyle Consultant Celebrity Recipes
Joan Rivers "Can We Shop"
Nationally syndicated 1993
• Lifestyle Consultant, represented and pitched products on air
"Rapture"
Film Short 1993
• Written and directed by Lana Garland played role of "Friend"
PRINT/RUNWAY
Fendi
2007
• Spring in store runway show
KD DANCE
2003
• Styled, choreographed, staged and walked runway show for Dance Theatre of Harlem Street Fair
ELLE
1999
• Movement Stylist- helped pose models for active fashion shots
Max
1995
• Personal Profile “Ones to watch”
Weiner
Sept. 1993
• Model: Tina Turner fashion layout
MR Magazine
Oct.1992
• Model: Fashion Layout
Vibe
Sept.1992
• Model: Fashion Layout
Vogue (Mexican)
1992
• Model: Josephine Baker Layout
TRAINING
Dance Magazine
• Internship
Nathan George
• Acting/Improvisation
Dance Theatre of Harlem
• Certificate Program: Ballet, Tap, African, Character, Music Theory, Dance History, Composition (Nancy Schaffenburg, Bessie Schonberg)
New York University Tisch School for the Arts
• Ballet, Cunningham, Horton (Linda Tarnay, Milton Myers)
Pennsylvania Ballet School
• Ballet, Pointe (Lupe Serrano)
Performing Arts School
• Ballet, Pointe, Graham (Marion Tonner, Pearl Schaffer)
Philadelphia Dance Company
• Ballet/Jazz (Marion Cuyjet)