AGUA DULCE DANCE THEATER (ADDT)—co-directed by Alicia Díaz and Matthew Thornton, ADDT integrates contemporary dance, martial arts, improvisation, and somatic practices to create works that spark the imagination and provoke thought. The company engages in dance making practices that include co-creation, instant composition, and experimentation, through collaborations with artists in dance, theater, video, sound, and lighting for concert dance, museums, site-specific, and dance-for-the-camera projects. By bringing diverse groups of people together, ADDT offers a space for different voices to be heard within a collective endeavor. Recent collaborators include dance artists Marion Ramírez, Jungwoong Kim, Thayer Jonutz, Steven Iannacone, and Maida Withers; video artists KimSu Theiler and Alexis Raskin; sound artist Oliver Lyons; and musicians Andy McGraw, José Joaquín García, and Héctor “Coco” Barez.
ADDT has presented work in Festival Internacional Danz’Aquí, Puerto Rico (2005), Dance in America Series @ Abron’s Art Center (2006), Jacob’s Pillow Inside Out Series (2006), Museo de la Ciudad in Querétaro, Mexico (2008), Blue Curtain Music and Dance Summer Series (2008), New York Dance Parade (2008 and 2010), Old Grand Rapids Public Museum (2010), Trip the Light: Ephemeral, Wealthy Theatre, MI (2011), Dance Films @ The Flea Festival (2011), Modlin Center for the Arts (2012), The Food for Thought Series at Danspace Project/St. Mark’s Church (2012), RVA Street Art Festival (2013), Hunts Point Homes at BAAD! (2013), The Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art (2014 and 2016), The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (2015), The Richmond Dance Festival Films Night (2015), Pregones Theatre (2015), Richmond Dance Festival (2015 and 2016), Movement Research at The Judson Church (2016), RADFest (2017), Museo y Centro de Estudio Humanisticos, Universidad del Turabo, Puerto Rico (2017), and Casa de Cultura RUTH Hernandez Torres, Puerto Rico (2017).
“Alicia Diaz and Matthew Thornton danced…with wonderful authority” Gus Solomons, Solomons Says
“imaginative works showed that when high-caliber collaborating artists take risks, audiences are often richly rewarded” Gene Harris, Times Dispatch
“Dancers Alicia Diaz and Matthew Thornton stand out in their technique” Jennifer Thompson, NY Dance Examiner
“the performers become conductors of spirit” Taja Lindley, Pepatian
Agua Dulce Dance Theater offers the following classes:
Contemporary Dance Technique–This class will focus on organic ways of moving while maximizing circular forces, coordinating breath and movement, and moving with an awareness of gravity and momentum. Kneepads recommended.
Capoeira–Students will learn basic movements and sequences of this Afro-Brazilian self-defense hidden in dance form. They will be exposed to the music of capoeira including instruments and songs. The class will culminate in a short “roda” or circle of capoeira where they will “play” capoeira drawing from the material learned in class.
Non-Traditional Partnering–Class begins with a warm up based on the energy work of Chi-Kung where each individual connects with and generates their own internal energy before coming into contact with another body. Students will learn fundamental principles of partnering that will allow them to explore weight-sharing and lifts. The class further explores learned exercises through directed improvisations.
Partner Bodywork–Drawing from elements of partner yoga and thai yoga massage, students will be led through a series of partner stretches and bodywork that will simultaneously relax and invigorate the body. A yoga or pilates mat is recommended.
Matthew Thornton 