SUSANA
ELENA
Susana Elena is a solo Spanish classical and flamenco dancer who
performs with recorded music. The show is multicultural,
emphasizes family entertainment, and features elegant choreographies
set to distinguished musical compositions.
CERTIFICATION
Susana is the recipient of a certificate of completion from the Los
Angeles County Arts Commission that qualifies her to teach/perform
standards-based dance education in the classroom.
PERFORMANCES
Susana continues performing throughout Southern California at a variety
of venues that include restaurants, theaters, arts and multicultural
festivals, women’s and fraternal clubs, and private
parties.
CHILDREN’S SHOWS
For the last several years Susana has created and implemented a fun and
informative program for children as young as five years at schools and
libraries. She’s told she has a natural ability to connect
with children, and believes it stems from her inherent, predominately
childlike nature that stays steadfast in its resolve. The program
consists of three to four dances, brief explanations of them, and
various ways the audiences can participate. Each choreography
tells a simple story through emotion, rhythm, and technique.
Also, each employs a different prop; a Cordobese hat, a Spanish fan, a
bullfighter’s cape, or castanets. Brief explanations of the
dances are provided, as well as opportunities for audience
involvement. At show’s end, children are invited onstage to
join in a simple rumba flamenca, danced with scarves. If time
permits afterwards, the children are encouraged to try out the props,
and the castanets are always most popular.
ALTERNATE PROGRAM FOR ADULT AND CHILDREN’S SHOWS
Susana offers an alternate program that adds a superb solo classical
Spanish guitarist, who introduces the audience to the timeless music
composed for the Spanish guitar. She highly recommends this show
for its ability to offer an additional level of richness and variety of
experience. Even young children are spellbound by Albeniz’s
mesmerizing composition “Asturias,” as well as the chance
to watch up close a guitarist’s superior mastery of his technique.
MUSINGS
Ephemeral as it may seem to be, the sublime soul, beauty, energy, and
poetry of dance endures and is omnipresent. Susana reflects upon
and acknowledges: the beautiful, soulful ballet dancer Jorge Donn, whom
she discovered too late; flamenco singer “La Negra,” a
grandmother who, along with her guitarist rocked, then transcended the
stage in Utrera in July 08; the youngest De Los Reyes daughter (seven
years old, looked five), who during the course of 45 seconds on stage
in Sevilla, danced with uncanny instinctual, emotional purity; the
compassionate, intelligent caring teachers she has read about in
“Dance Teacher Magazine,”….and wishes shoe could
have experienced; Middle Eastern dancer Lee Ali, whose portrayal of
Moroccan women reveals their spirited humanity, humor, humility, and
sensuality; the anonymous 13 year old girl who, at the 2003 Orange
County Fair, danced with an unbridled joy on the Heritage Stage; and so
it goes…..
.