Tânia Santiago
Tel: 415.931.1302 mobile:
415.806.0152
email:
taniasantiago@hotmail.com
Born
and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Tânia
Santiago grew up in the heart of African influenced Brazil. She has taught,
danced, and choreographed for the most well known companies in Brazil. She has
degrees in Dance from the SESC Associaçao
School of the Arts and Fundaçao do Estado da Bahia
School of Dance located in Salvador. While her
specialty is folkloric and contemporary Afro-Brazilian dance, Tânia has also studied Jazz, Ballet, West African, Afro
Cuban and Modern dance. She spent 6 years working with Olodum,
the world renowned Bloco Afro(cultural
groups rooted in the annual Carnival Parade). Tânia
choreographed and performed for Olodum on television,
at concerts and at music festivals all over the world, including Europe, Asia
and North America. She also taught dance at the Olodum
Creative School for Youth in Bahia during this time,
choreographing and directing seasonal performances.
Tânia has been residing in California since 1997. She
teaches regularly at Rhythm and Motion / ODC Dance Commons in San Francisco.
She performs with her own company Aguas Da Bahia, Ramon Alayo Dance Company,
and Deep Waters Dance Company. She has been developing her teaching work in
many San Francisco public schools. In 2001 Tania
received the California Arts Council Artist in Residency grant for 3
years to teach youth in the community. Tania’s choreography has been
performed by many local groups including, Loco Bloco,
Axe Abada, Kuumba, Quimbanda Grupo Carnavalesco. She formed the dance company Aguas Da Bahia in 1999.
In 1998 she formed the dance company Aguas
Da Bahia which has
performed at the Mexican Heritage, ODC, Herbst,USF Presentation, Brava, and Palace of Fine Arts Theatres
as well as at the Cow Palace, Stanford University, and on the S.F. and Oakland Carnaval stages. In 2003 Aguas Da Bahia produced its own season
with 6 shows in 4 cities. The critically acclaimed show AGUAS, was performed in
front of 1200 people over three days in San Francisco at its sell-out shows at
USF Presentation Theatre and Brava Theatre for the Arts.
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 1991-94 Dancer.
Salvador, Brazil 1991-1995 Dancer.
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 1991-1995 Dancer in ongoing Folkloric shows and large seasonal performances.
San Francisco 1997-ongoing Dance instructor for adults and adolescents. Choreograph performances, Carnaval and festival entries.
Stanford University, CA 2001, 2002 – Created unique choreographies for the student dance group’s annual spring performances.
Sebastople, CA 2001 – Created a unique choreography for the
Northern California carnaval group.
Teacher/Choreographer
San Francisco 3 year (2001-4) Recipient of the CAC Individual Artist in Communities grant. Teaching dance at S.F. Beacon Centers: Community Bridges, Western Addition, and Richmond Beacons
San Francisco 2004 Artist residencies in San Francisco schools.
San Francisco 2003/4 Artist in Residence in the Arts in the City Afterschool Arts Program
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 1991-1997 Teach dance classes for at-risk youth, choreograph and direct performances.
Resident Dance instructor.
Resident Dance Instructor 1998-ongoing
Daly City, CA 1999 and 2000/1 Artist in residence funded by the Peninsula Community Foundation Emerging Arts Grant. Taught original choreography to a co-ed dance class which presented the work in three performances at school and local colleges.
Cazadero, California 1997, 1998, 2001. Featured instructor and choreographer
San Francisco 1998 Artist in residence teaching dance for the after school program.
Mission Cultural Center
City Dance Center (San Francisco)
Alice Arts Center (Oakland)
Visiting instructor.
University of Florida, Gainsville
Copenhagen University, Denmark
Visiting artist dance and music workshops with Olodum.