Beautifully danced with great feeling! is this solo choreographed and performed by Francisco Gella. The music is J.S. Bach and Ava Maria sung by Celine Dion.
Francisco Gella was born in the Philippines and grew up in the United States. He grew up taking gymnastics and only off handily took his first dance class at age 19 as a replacement for his gymnastics, and was hooked! He was studying at the University of Washington, Seattle where he was able to receive a well rounded training in contemporary and modern dance and graduate with BA in dance.
After only four years of dancing, while taking classes at the Limon Center in New York, he was invited to audition for the Repertory Dance Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, which marked the beginning of his professional dance career. He has not only danced but choreographed extensively for many companies such as the Pennsylvania ballet company and has received many awards over the years.
Gella also teaches and is the artist director for his contemporary dance school called NUEVO, meaning “new” in Spanish. He firmly believes that the energy and attack of commercial dance styles and the refinement, artistic integrity and professionalism of ballet can be successfully fused together. It is this philosophy that forms the curricular basis for his school.
I was so surprised to discover this solo. Choreographically it is beautifully simple based on a chair theme. But it is Gella’s expressive and wonderful way of moving that I find so gripping I had to post it. His truly authentic and genuine feeling and passion is so strong and visceral that it is a joy and privilege to witness. As he says of his work, “The biggest thing is you just have to really be true to who you are and express it” as he does through his choreography to get people to “feel something on the inside”.
And from watching his solo I think he does!
Enjoy this beautiful treat and SHARE if you think so too!
Leave a Reply