Mira Estaphanous of West Windsor has her New York City dance debut in Marie Alonzo’s “Passion and Fire” on Saturday, June 26, at 4:30 p.m. at Dance New Amsterdam, 280 Broadway. Although she studied ballet from ages five to 10, she did not really dance for a number of years. About 18 months ago she began studying at HotSalsaHot with Henri Velandia, also a West Windsor resident, and “fell in love” with salsa.
The piece is inspired by the story of Verdi’s opera, “La Traviata,” based on Alexander Dumas’ “La dame aux carm‚liasm,” the story of the doomed love affair between a famous courtesan and the writer. Alonzo, also a West Windsor resident, conceived and choreographed this work, which explores the fusion of modern dance and salsa, with collaborative assistance by Henri Velandia, also of West Windsor. Other performers are Kelsey Burns, Cathy Gonzales, Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen, Rogerson St. Jean, Danielle Mondi, Nancy Musco of Plainsboro, and Kevin Toft.
Alonzo is a dancer, choreographer, scholar, and educator, whose works have been presented in New York, New Jersey, throughout the United States, and Canada. A founding member of the West Windsor Arts Council, in 2004 she co-founded the “I’ll have what she’s having” Dance Project, a dance cooperative of women choreographers ages 40 and up. She is on the faculty at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in Plainsboro.
The Estaphanous family moved to West Windsor just as Mira was entering high school and she graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in 1997. During high school she was in the concert choir and performed in talent shows. Estaphanous graduated from Roger Williams College with a degree in psychology and business management and from Southern New England Law School. She practices real estate and immigration.
Dancing seems to run in her family as her mother, Karma, is a belly dancer, and her father, Boshra, likes ballroom dance. Her parents have both been with ReMax for close to 20 years.
The work is also the premiere of Alonzo’s choreography as part of the Works in Progress series that gives audience members the opportunity to give feedback to each choreographer. The suggested donation is $10. For information call 212-227-9856.
