Sandra Paola Hendrix-Lopez
I think of myself as... an instigator, researcher, educator, student, collaborator and lover of life.
Where I come from and why I am here... I am a proud Colombian, born and raised in the country's capital Bogota. I started dancing when I was very young and it has always been a part of my life, both as a social activity and in formal training. I moved to the US in January of 2004 to pursue my BFA in dance (this was not a career choice in Colombia at the time) and graduated in 2008 from Missouri State University. While in school I got two minors, psychology and religious studies (the latter focused on Eastern religions, mainly Buddhism), and both fields have shaped dramatically how I approach my work as an artist and educator.
My interests and what I am doing now... I am a currently a Masters student in Aesthetic Education at University of Illinois and I am interested in the use of improvisation in social dance education. To explore the possibilities of merging improvisation and social dance methodology I work with ContactTango Laboratory, a group of dancers and explorers with whom I will be teaching and performing soon! I also have a broader interest in human relationships in general and the significance of human touch in performance and everyday life, which is at the heart of the work I do with in2. I believe improvisation can transform our understanding of how we relate to ourselves, others and the world, making it a great tool to foster a creative and peaceful society.
My influences/what drives my work... social, ballroom and modern/contemporary dance, contact improvisation, ensemble thinking, nature, meditation, yoga, philosophy, psychological theories of learning (especially that of Russian psychologist Lev Vygostky), improvisation and play, and the social therapeutical approach to education (as it is taught and used by the East Side Institute in NY).
Where I come from and why I am here... I am a proud Colombian, born and raised in the country's capital Bogota. I started dancing when I was very young and it has always been a part of my life, both as a social activity and in formal training. I moved to the US in January of 2004 to pursue my BFA in dance (this was not a career choice in Colombia at the time) and graduated in 2008 from Missouri State University. While in school I got two minors, psychology and religious studies (the latter focused on Eastern religions, mainly Buddhism), and both fields have shaped dramatically how I approach my work as an artist and educator.
My interests and what I am doing now... I am a currently a Masters student in Aesthetic Education at University of Illinois and I am interested in the use of improvisation in social dance education. To explore the possibilities of merging improvisation and social dance methodology I work with ContactTango Laboratory, a group of dancers and explorers with whom I will be teaching and performing soon! I also have a broader interest in human relationships in general and the significance of human touch in performance and everyday life, which is at the heart of the work I do with in2. I believe improvisation can transform our understanding of how we relate to ourselves, others and the world, making it a great tool to foster a creative and peaceful society.
My influences/what drives my work... social, ballroom and modern/contemporary dance, contact improvisation, ensemble thinking, nature, meditation, yoga, philosophy, psychological theories of learning (especially that of Russian psychologist Lev Vygostky), improvisation and play, and the social therapeutical approach to education (as it is taught and used by the East Side Institute in NY).
