Brooklyn-based choreographer Miguel Gutierrez will be in Philly this weekend! A two-time Bessie award winner, Miguel has performed with Joe Goode Performance Group, and John Jasperse Company, among others. In 2001, he formed his own company, The Powerful People. Miguel Gutierrez and the Powerful People will present their most recent work, Everyone, at the 2008 Live Arts Festival. Click here to visit their website.

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This message was originally posted on 2/8/08.Thanks to the support of Philadelphia Dance Projects, Miguel will be teaching three master classes at the Performance Garage this weekend, focusing in various areas of movement and performance improvisation. On Saturday afternoon, he will teach “What is this class?” He describes the class as follows:

Old school technique class with new school questions. Improvisation is dead so let’s improvise all the time. Let’s imagine things that don’t exist and dance with them too. This is a warm-up for being a contemporary dance artist whatever that means. Real techniques, invented techniques, practicing presence, practicing hope, ‘releasing’, sweating, thinking, feeling, moving for no reason and finding out why. Exercises are boring but sometimes important. Phrases are patriarchal but sometimes fun. Smart movers make good art. I am the teacher and I will do what I can.

On Sunday, he will teach “DEATH ELECTRIC EMO PROTEST AEROBICSAKA DEEP AEROBICS” (yikes!) and workshop called “The Big Mess or Practices for returning to a state of wonder…”

He will also participate in a “Meet the Artist” event on Saturday evening, where he’ll show video excerpts of his work and discuss his approach to movement. The Performance Garage is located at 1515 Brandywine Street, in Fairmount. Classes are $10/$5 for students, seniors, and members of DanceUSA and Philly COSMOS. Click here to find out more.