CHOREOGRAPHY and DIRECTION

As a highly experience dance maker/choreographer Tanya has create work for many companies.

The context of her work includes dance theatre, movement direction, salsa, film, education, community, musical and children's theatre, carnival. cabaret, street theatre, ballet, corporate and television. She has worked with many performers including actors, musicians, puppeteers, singers, dancers, children and many more.

VALENTINO-2004 to 2007

Director/choreographer/performer.

A fantastic and innovative series of theatrical shows  using a life size puppet as her perfect salsa dance partner!

Fantastic for outdoor events and festivals.

Working with other professional artists is an essential part in the development of Tanya's work, she is constantly expanding and adding new ideas into her work.

"I have know Tanya professionally for over ten years and I have always admired her talent and creativity in the performing arts. The quality of her work is exemplary."

(Sheila Thompson, director of The Adam Smith Theatre)

ADAPTATION OF LA CARMELA 2006 

Director and Choreographer for the Academia Allegro.

Originally made for Salsa Theatre Productions, the piece was re-choreographed for the students of the Academia Allegro in Cali Colombia. Again a cast of 40 people with a variety of levels and experience in performing, the show was a combination of dance theatre and song.

The music was especially composed by Sue Miller band leader of Charanga del Norte.

"Esa versatilidad y mentalidad abierta a la innovacion es la que ha llevado a Tanya a estar en la busqueda constante de explorar todas las aristas de su arte desde todos los genero"

(El Pais - Alda Mera)

ONCE UPON A QUARRY HILL 2005

Choreographer for The West Yorkshire Playhouse

A major community project involving a cast of over 70, aged from 4 to 84 years, the production involved drama, music and dance.

'Choreographer Tanya Cusan developed wonderfully effective movement routines and staging which challenged performers with varying levels of experience.'

Ian Brown, Artistic Director, West Yorkshire Playhouse.

BIZETS CARMEN  2004

Choreographer and movement direction for Stowe Opera.

Involving a cast of over 30 people with no much experience in dance or movement.

Swishing dances choreographed by Tanya,  brilliantly pull off. everyone knew exactly where to go, what to do!

'By no means the norm with such productions, given very limited rehearsal time.'  'Roderic Dunnet'

TUTTI FRUTTI PRODUCTIONS 1995 TO 2000

Performer and Choreographer.

Tanya worked for the company for many many years, she was actively involved in devising, choreographing and developing several characters with in each production, she toured extensively with the company doing an average of 200 shows per year.

"They perform with vigor,conviction and real flair. Their glowing integrity does them exceptional credit, and their work has inestimable value. Anyone connected with theatre should be applauding them."

(The Stage - Kevin Berry)

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOVITA FEIJOO

Devising and performing a series of Live art Performance installations for a variety of art galleries, collaboration between visual artist, musicians and dancers.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SALSA SCENE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

AND CASA LATINA SINCE 1985

Choreographer/performer/teacher.

Tanya came to England in 1985 and was offered a place at the NSCD, as well as doing that she taught and did demonstrations in salsa, merengue,cumbia and other dances from Colombia at venues across the country but particularly in Leeds and the Yorkshire region.

Dj Lubi's

It is true that Tanya was almost one of the first teachers in the whole UK! Tanya was my only choice for dance teacher at Casa Latina because she was integral to the whole evolution of salsa dancing in Yorkshire.

Casa Latina was the first Yorkshire's Latin music and dance club at the underground in Leeds 1995-1999

Luby Jovanovic one of it's promoters openly acknowledges that if it wasn't for Tanya the salsa scene would probably never have taken off in the city the way it has!

"One of the UK's outstanding exponents of salsa"

JIMI NAMA and EN LAS CALLES 1988 to 1994

Choreographer/director/performer/teacher for The Northern Dance Company.

Tanya and three of her colleagues from the Northern School of Contemporary dance where the founders of the Northern Dance Company, they operated as a collective. They developed a repertoire that explored new choreography in contemporary dance and Tanya's work proved to be a stalwart for the repertoire, her work has always been described as fascinating, colourful and passionate, being from the land of salsa she was already bringing a distinctly South American feel to her work.

"Cusan's own work based on South American poetry, features a fascinating duo, gently flapping or tripping in frondy costumes like condors wing's" (Yorkshire Post)