Maria Avila wins Vancouver International Dance Festival’s Biennial Choreographic Award
The independent artist focuses on flamenco, investigates how singing and guitar can enhance her movements
Maria Avila has earned professional grants to study flamenco in Spain.
Vancouver-based artist Maria Avila took home the Choreographic Award presented at the Vancouver International Dance Festival for her constant release of visually and technically astounding performances.
Maria Avila has established herself as an independent dancer, singer, choreographer, and teacher. Some more recent achievements include completing an MFA in dance at York University, being awarded a mentorship to study with Myriam Allard, receiving professional development grants to study in Spain, as well as performing in the Coetaní Experimental Flamenco Festival in Athens, Greece.
Maria Avila.
Avila revolves her craft mostly around flamenco, a dance genre that is deeply rooted in Spanish culture. Avila first discovered her love for the Spanish culture when she was in her high school Spanish classes; the connection to the language was immediate. After finishing her degree in Visual Arts at Emily Carr University, Avila emerged herself in the world of dance and, in particular, the flamenco community. Fuelled by her passion, she seeks to add dimensions and variety to her work in dance. She investigates how the cante (singing) or guitar can add to her existing movements, creating a deeper resonance between the performer and the audience. To further transform her artistry, Avila later attended York University for a Master’s degree in dance.
Avila’s experience at York University inspired her to create a trilogy of short films titled “The Bull”, which is her most recent work. Avila usually starts off her choreographic process with a clear message to the audience “Flamenco works really closely with the music, so a lot of the time we are working with the beat or off the beat,” says Avila. “So music is a big part of that [the choreographic process]; feeling and a mode of quality from that music drives my choreographic vision.”
“The Bull” is an ambitious piece in which Avila dances to the sounds effects that she makes on her own rather than working with a guitarist or any existing soundtrack. Avila’s emphasis on contrast is evident in this piece, manifested in her progression in movement and in her character development - the story of the bull and the bullfighter unfolds with Avila playing both characters, which creates a symphony of contrasts.
Moving on from “The Bull”, Avila wishes to continue experimenting with flamenco and her foundations while taking more risks musically and choreographically. Avila is currently working on a film for the Victoria Flamenco Festival, which is revealed to be a sequel to “The Bull”, where the relationship between the bull and the bullfighter will be further explored through the collaboration of multiple artists rather than just Avila herself.
The VIDF would like to congratulate Avila again on her outstanding achievement. Keep your eyes peeled for her upcoming performance at the Victoria Flamenco Festival. View the 2021 VIDF Choreograph Award ceremony and The Bull here.
Maria Avila.
This post was sponsored by Vancouver International Dance Festival.