Portfolio Dance

Mitzy Lira

portfolio

Dance Performer Dance Choreographer

2023

Biography

Mitzy Lira, a beginner in the performing and choreographing field, is pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and studio art with a concentration in graphic design and minoring in painting at The University of Texas at EL Paso. She currently lives between the borders of El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Mitzy loves to work in a community where she has the opportunity to create with others. Living at La Frontera she has been able to know and work with multiple artists such as Ramon Cardenas from Los Dos, Killer Joy, Chico MacMurtrie, Valeria Valleto, Melissa Melpignano, and more. Mitzy has worked as a muralist, illustrator, photographer, painter, and performer. Some of her dreams consist of continuing to work and grow in the arts and to make a positive change and/or contribution. During her free time, Mitzy enjoys working as an animal rescuer with her Mother, and teaching children ballet and how to paint. She loves to travel to the farms of New Mexico and explore the deserts of Arizona, states in which she had the opportunity to grow up in and live during her teenage and early adult years, a time in which she traveled back and forth to La Frontera with her family.

Website

https://free-4189897.webador.com

Artist Statement

I dance because it exceeds my own expectations, it makes me feel alive, it allows me to discover new things about myself, it gives me the opportunity to build multiple connections with other dancers as human beings, it makes me feel stronger, it is my creative outlet, it motivates me not only as an artist but as a living being, and it has always been there. I connect with those who are not afraid to offer and show their art in different ways, either emotionally, vocally, mentally, or physically. I love the idea of how the body is capable to build, create, and capture movements that are seen as a piece of art, as if the body was a sculpture.

The sensation of creating art with the body and the mind is what makes me flourish. When I dance I feel as if it was a source to release and obtain freedom. Sometimes I imagine as if my body was a pen and the stage was a journal to be written with thoughts and emotions. I will admit that there are moments where I have felt fear when I dance. There is the fear of failure but seeing dance as a form in which one can be vulnerable and show all its imperfections is stronger. Dance can be a form of not caring about judgements.

My purpose for creating my choreographies and performances is the want to share my creativity and to make an important statement that is personal or relates to a society or community. I constantly get influenced by my culture and the people at La Frontera. It enriches my creativity and imagination. One of my main intentions of creating is to bring awareness to social issues and/or environmental issues besides just the mere action of fulfilling my want of creating art. Besides this, I use my body to create the sense of freedom. I am free to show and be myself. I luckily have the right to dance, to feel, to take care of myself and everything that surrounds me. I bring meaning to everything I believe in and aspire to be. Dancing has always gifted me the opportunity to feel empowered and self-expression has become easier. I adore this. When people dance it looks as if they were in entrance of pleasure of being human, of being alive, of being able to move. It leads to connection and presence. On of the reasons why I continue to dance.

I thrive in this world by being an artist despite all its challenges. Creating art has become a lifetime of passion for me. I am also a visual artist that works mostly with drawing, painting, photography, and graphic design.

It makes my vison of creating compositions and shape movements more clearly. I enjoy paying attention to detail, which one can see throughout my dances and artwork. Besides this, I always work with metaphors, motifs, and repetition. I want my art to relieve, provoke, and kindle emotions, which is a beautiful process for a viewer to experience and for me as the choreographer and dancer to watch.

Manifesto A community that is accepting and is willing to make some changes to create a more positive/ beneficial environment.

Institutions helping and giving dance departments better resources, funds, grants, and scholarships just as it is given to other athletic fields such as football.

More medical care, physical therapy, and spaces for dancers studying dance and/or dance education in colleges.

Give the same importance to dance as it is given to STEM degrees. All degrees are important and should be given the same level of attention.

Complete acceptance towards all bodies, races, ethnicities in the dance community. Leading to no more body shaming. All bodies are different but they all are capable to dance. Have in mind that dancers can follow and do the same technique but it might look different due to body types and that is okay.

Use my art to bring awareness and use it as a tool of activism towards multiple topics.

Declare my culture, heritage, the borderline, race, and who I am in my work.

Do not cut movement, fully be present and deliver my entire intention.

Open my heart and mind.

I want my art to be appreciated, captivating, inspirational, relatable, powerful, graceful, ornamented, creative, new, etc.

I want to show love with my art and hope it leads towards a strong impactful statement.

I don't want people to believe that dance is not significant.

Dance can be everything and can be everywhere. The world has been used as music, sensations, and meanings.

Our bodies are our instruments, so it should be taken with care and patience.

Discipline must always be practiced.

Be driven by the idea that dancing and being able to move is a blessing.

Kindness and working well with others are important.

Recognize your potential and your contribution.

Remember your passion towards dance and why you started dancing.

Push yourself, don't stay in your comfort zone all the time.

Take breaks and feed your soul.

Listen to your body and your needs.

Dance is power which can be used to empower oneself and others.

Practice encouragement, patience, and kindness with yourself as you would with others.

Reminder that you are in your own journey in dance so there shouldn't be the idea of comparing yourself with others. Those who are better at something and that something happens to be one of your weaknesses, observe them as inspiration and learn from them. Everyone started somewhere.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

In your dance practice don't forget about the principles of choreography.

Think about what can make your choreography interesting in a method that will capture an audience's attention.

Make your voice be known. Dance is a communication tool (societies use dance to communicate on both personal and cultural levels and to meet physical and spiritual needs).

Try new strategies and techniques.

It's okay if it doesn't work out. Try again.

It is okay if you feel stuck or unsure when creating. It is a process, trust the process.

Teaching Philosophy

By being a dance educator one is gifted with the opportunity to influence, inspire, advice, create, and work with students in which they can share their selves with them as artists and people. As a teacher I would like to create a space for students where they not only bring themselves into class but the people they want to become. Offer them a space of growth in which will allow them to fulfill their capacities and not be afraid to take risks. To help them understand that who they are and where they come from is welcomed in the space.

To deliver their wants and needs through their movement. A free space of no judgement just support and constructive criticism delivered with kindness and genuineness of wanting them to develop further on anything they are working on. Offer time in which the students can take their time to feel better emotionally, physically, and/or mentally.

Students would work in teams to further develop their skills of collaboration and working with others. They will also have the opportunity to work with themselves to find their voice and use it and make it present. To not lose their voices and presence when dancing. They are not only dancing for an audience, but also for themselves. When they dance they’ll know that no one is stopping them from creating and moving. They’ll do it tonight and tomorrow. That is one way that it’ll make their soul grow. I do believe on the saying that one of the reasons “we are alive is to express ourselves in the world and creating art might be the most effective and beautiful way of doing so”. Dance can be a universal way to send messages between each other as people and through time. Furthermore, I’ll try my best to have an instruction in which would allow my students to practice their dance styles that they are comfortable with or have more knowledge of, but encourage them to not be afraid to enter into a new journey of a new dance style they haven’t practiced yet. I hope that there would be growth, compassion, empathy, passion, curiosity, discipline, work ethic, and transformations from my students due to my teaching methods.

What knowledge, skills, and attitudes are important for student success in my discipline?

Having a good level of enthusiasm, which is a key factor to be/stay motivated to expand knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits. Mental toughness, resilience, dedication, social competence, self-awareness, and moral integrity, collaboration across networks and written communication, curiosity and imagination.

What are my students preparing for?

My students would be preparing to find aspiration and inspiration to continue working on their art. Discover their voices as artists through their work. Understand how beneficial it is to work and help as a community.

How does my identity and my students' identities (e.g. race, gender, class, background, experience, and levels of privilege) effect the classroom?

Be open minded and assist students be conscious of where everyone comes from different places and situations. It really impacts how we all think and work. If is not hurting no one why not welcome it. Create an environment in which allows everyone to embrace who they are.

What are my strengths as a teacher?

Being kind, patient, active, resonate with what students are saying, listen to their voices and bodies besides my own, engage and prioritize students well being and effort, be empathetic, creative, collaborative, and offer them a place in which students can utilize interpersonal and real-world skills.

Resume

2023

MITZY LIRA Graphic Designer Painter Dancer 575 915 5307 mdlira@miners.utep.edu mitzyy.liraa@gmail.com

EXTRACURRICULUM & WORK EXPERIENCE EDUCATION

Fall 2023

Fall 2018- Fall 2024

Oil Paintings and Illustrations selected to be displayed for HOLOS Piano Collective Recital by the UTEP Department of Music.

University of Texas at El Paso

Fall 2023

Department of Liberal Arts Double Major in Dance and Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design, Minor in Painting Overall GPA: 3.5

Performed for Little Amal’s Walk at UTEP- Improvised and performed a small choreography with selected dance students from the Department of Theatre & Dance at UTEP.

LANGUAGE Native: Spanish + English Scholastic: German

SKILLS Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Basic photography knowledge Basic Animation Knowledge Creativity and design Attention to detail Emotional intelligence Project management Adaptability Friendly and positive communicator Work well in team environment Performer

Fall 2023 Performed Meliorism- A dance piece choreographed by Melissa Vera and Mitzy Lira. A Folklore, ballet- contemporary piece. First performance at The International Day of Peace hosted by Unity Trough Creativity organization directed by Laurie Marshall at Keystone Heritage Park/ El Paso Botanical Garden in El Paso, Texas. Second Performance at the Orange and Blue Day at UTEP’s Centennial Plaza.

Fall 2023 Dance Entertainer for UTEP’s Football Tailgate- Hosted by the Department of Liberal Arts and the Department of Theatre and Dance at UTEP. Guided audience to dance bachata, salsa, congo, and merengue.

Summer 2023 Sold Stickers and Acrylic Paintings at a Farmer’s Market in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Spring 2023 Performed for UTEP’s One Water Cluster and Somos Agua: Water Festival- choreographic collaboration with dance students from Utep. Dance styles practiced were ballet, contemporary, and lyrical.

Spring 2023

AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Myron H. Nadel & Jane E. Poss Scholarship (2022-2023, 2023-2024) Current member of: National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS); The University of Texas at El Paso Honors Program; and Desert Dance a student organization at UTEP. Listed on the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s List of Fall 2021

Stage Manager for Raising the Barre: A Fundraising Dance ConcertHosted by Desert Dance and the UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance at the June Sadowski Kruszewski Studio Theatre.

Spring 2023 Women's History Month Art Gallery 2023 at UTEP Union Gallery- Displayed oil paintings representing the issue of femicides in Cd. Juarez Chihuahua. A series called Este Inquieto Dolor.

Fall 2022

Fall 2020

Performed at the Rio Bosque Wetlands for Experiencing the BosqueA collaboration with UTEP dancers, musicians, metalsmiths, the Stanlee & Gerald Rubin Center for The Visual Arts, and more. Dance styles were improvisation, contemporary, lyrical, and modern.

CARES Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Liberal Arts-Member of one of the top three winning teams of UTEP’s Bootcamp, resulting as an automatic pass to the CARES Grand Bootcamp Competition. Worked with team members on creating a business focusing on healthy fast food delivered to customers in El Paso, TX who are dealing with illnesses such as diabetes.

Worked on customer findings, business pitch, and editing/making of the video presented with a pitch. Designed logo for the business.

Summer 2022 Performed as a cast member for UTEP Dance Program Senior Capstones The 8 at the June Sadowski Kruszewski Studio TheatreSenior Capstoners: Act of Valor by Camila Hellmuth, and U by Isabelle Urquizo.

Spring 2022 Performed for dance show Motion Bound at the Wise Family TheatreChoreography by Rayven Cuerva. Dance style were Folkloric and contemporary.

Spring 2022 Painted a Mural with Laurie Marshall, Founder of Unity Through Creativity, and UTEP painting students- The Singing Tree Mural Project: The Ukrainian Singing Tree of Strength and Freedom.

Spring 2022 Performed at the Gathering For Water: Dance Festival- Casted for Saul Martinez’s, a senior student, capstone Agonal Respite, and casted for Melissa Melpignano’s, a faculty member, piece Whistles the Sea. Dance styles were contemporary, modern dance, and pizzica tarantata.

Fall 2021- Present Historian Officer for the Desert Dance student organization at UTEPResponsible to dictate the public image of Desert Dance through social media, publicity, and documentation of events.

Summer 2020 Academic in Pandemic Exhibition by Ethical Metalsmiths-Chosen to showcase self-made jewelry virtually.

Summer 2020 VALLETO Dance Company - Virtual NYC Summer Intensive- Developed self-discipline as a creator and as a performer at the all-female contemporary dance-theatre company led by Valeria Valleto. Communication, integrity, and inclusivity were adapted. Performed virtually with professional dancers.

Choreography made by professional choreographers such as Robi, Emma Evelein, and dance company known as Two in a Seven Billion.

Summer 2020 Designed business card for a New Mexico Real Estate Agent. (Summer 2020) Spring 2020 Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens: Artificial of Isolation Catalog- Work exhibited at the publication Artifacts of Isolation: Creative Responses during the Unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic, a collaborative project organized by the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens and the Jewelry and Metals Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Fall 2021 Performed with artist Chico MacMurtrie’s sculpture Border Crossers Robots- Located at UTEP and at El Paso’s Chalk the Block.

REFRENCES

Summer 2021

Ramon Cardenas (915) 241 4614

Stanlee & Gerald Rubin Center for The Visual Arts Community Engaged Mural Project with Annunciation House- Worked with Artist and Curator Ramon Cardenas and UTEP Art students on mural for the Annunciation house by creating a welcoming and safe environment for immigrants.

Summer 2021 Worked with artist Killer Joy, Los Dos, & UTEP art Students into the making of a mural at the Chalk the Block in El Paso, TX. Summer 2021 Painted a Mural with UTEP Art students at EL Paso Zoo for a sloth’s enclosure.

Summer 2021 Designed logo for a Chef’s business known as Caveman Cuisine.

Summer 2021- Present Art Commissions- Digital art portraits, oil paint portraits, and illustrations as stickers.

Spring 2021 2021 Annual Juried UTEP Student Art Exhibition at the Rubin CenterShowcased oil paintings of El Paso, TX, which were the Durangutio and the Plaza street in downtown. Daisy Nam, Curator from Ballroom Marfa, was the Fine Arts Juror.

Laurie Marshall (415) 612 0401 Paola Ramirez (915) 747 6736 Melissa Melpignano (310) 745 9709

CV

2023

Mitzy D. Lira

Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art & Dance Performance

mdlira@miners.utep.edu www.linkedin.com/in/mitzy-d-lira-17490928b (575) 915-5307

EDUCATION

SCHOLARSHIPS

University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Liberal Arts Double Major in Dance and Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design, Minor in Painting Overall GPA: 3.5 Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2024

Myron H. Nadel & Jane E. Poss (2022-2023, 2023-2024)

LANGUAGES Native: Spanish + English Scholastic: German

SKILLS Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Basic photography knowledge Basic animation knowledge Creativity and design Attention to detail Emotional intelligence Project management Adaptability Friendly and positive communicator Work well in team environment Dance performer

AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Current member of the: National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), The University of Texas at El Paso Honors Program, and Desert Dance at UTEP. Listed on the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s List of Fall 2021.

Foundations of Leadership Certificate 1 and 2. (Summer 2021)- Issued by The National Society of Leadership and Success (skills obtained: communication, critical & creative problem-solving, collaboration, cultural intelligence & diversity, emotional intelligence, & confidence).

EMPLOYMENT & EXTRACURRICULAR IN DANCE Performed for Little Amal’s Walk at UTEP (Fall 2023)Improvised and performed a small choreography with selected dance students from the Department of Theatre & Dance at UTEP. Performed Meliorism (Fall 2023)- A dance piece choreographed by Melissa Vera and Mitzy Lira. A Folklore, ballet- contemporary piece. First performance at The International Day of Peace hosted by Unity Trough Creativity organization directed by Laurie Marshall at Keystone Heritage Park/ El Paso Botanical Garden in El Paso, Texas. Second Performance at the Orange and Blue Day at UTEP’s Centennial Plaza.

Dance Entertainer for UTEP’s Football Tailgate (Fall 2023)Hosted by the Department of Liberal Arts and the Department of Theatre and Dance at UTEP. Guided audience to dance bachata, salsa, congo, and merengue.

Performed at the Gathering For Water: Dance Festival (Spring 2023)- Casted for Saul Martinez’s, a senior student, capstone Agonal Respite, and casted for Melissa Melpignano’s, a faculty member, piece Whistles the Sea. Dance styles were contemporary, modern dance, and pizzica tarantata.

Performed for UTEP’s One Water Cluster and Somos Agua Water Festival (Spring 2023) - choreographic collaboration with dance students from Utep. Dance styles practiced were ballet, contemporary, and lyrical.

Stage Manager for Raising the Barre : A Fundraising Dance Concert (Spring 2023)- Hosted by Desert Dance and the UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance at the June Sadowski Kruszewski Studio Theatre.

Performed at the Rio Bosque Wetlands for Experiencing the Bosque (Fall 2022)- A collaboration with UTEP dancers, musicians, metalsmiths, the Stanlee & Gerald Rubin Center for The Visual Arts, and more. Dance styles were improvisation, contemporary, lyrical, and modern.

Performed for dance show Motion Bound at the Wise Family Theatre (Spring 2022)- Choreography by Rayven Cuerva. Dance style were Folkloric and contemporary.

Performed as a cast member for UTEP Dance Program Senior Capstones The 8 (Spring 2022) at the June Sadowski Kruszewski Studio Theatre. Senior Capstoners: Act of Valor by Camila Hellmuth, and U by Isabelle Urquizo’s.

Historian Officer for the Desert Dance student organization at UTEP (Fall 2021- present)- Responsible to dictate the public image of Desert Dance through social media, publicity, and documentation of events.

Performed with artist Chico MacMurtrie’s sculpture Border Crossers Robots (Fall 2021)- Located at UTEP and at El Paso’s Chalk the Block.

VALLETO Dance Company - Virtual NYC Summer Intensive (Summer 2020)- Developed self-discipline as a creator and as a performer at the all-female contemporary dance-theatre company led by Valeria Valleto. Communication, integrity, and inclusivity were adapted. Performed virtually with professional dancers.

Choreography made by professional choreographers such as Robi, Emma Evelein, and dance company known as Two in a Seven Billion.

EMPLOYMENT & EXTRACURRICULAR IN ART Oil Paintings and Illustrations selected to be displayed for HOLOS Piano Collective Recital by the UTEP Department of Music (Fall 2023).

Sold Stickers and Acrylic Paintings at a Farmer’s Market in Las Cruces, New Mexico (Summer 2023).

Earth Month Art Gallery Spring 2023 at UTEP - Displayed colored pencil drawing titled Little Flor.

Women's History Month Art Gallery 2023 at UTEP Union Gallery (Spring 2023)- Displayed oil paintings representing the issue of femicides in Cd. Juarez Chihuahua. A series called Este Inquieto Dolor.

Painted a Mural with Laurie Marshall Founder of Unity Through Creativity and UTEP painting students (Spring 2022)- The Singing Tree Mural Project: The Ukrainian Singing Tree of Strength and Freedom.

Worked with artist Killer Joy, Los Dos, & UTEP art Students into the making of a mural at the Chalk the Block in El Paso, TX. (Summer 2021) Painted a Mural with UTEP Art students at EL Paso Zoo for a sloth’s enclosure. (Summer 2021)

Stanlee & Gerald Rubin Center for The Visual Arts Community Engaged Mural Project with Annunciation House (Summer 2021) -Worked with Artist and Curator Ramon Cardenas and UTEP Art students on mural for the Annunciation house by creating a welcoming and safe environment for immigrants.

Art Commissions (Summer 2021- Present) -Digital art portraits, oil paint portraits, and illustrations as stickers.

2021 Annual Juried UTEP Student Art Exhibition at the Rubin Center (Spring 2021)- Showcased oil paintings of El Paso, TX, which were the Durangutio and the Plaza street in downtown.

Daisy Nam, Curator from Ballroom Marfa, was the Fine Arts Juror.

CARES Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Liberal Arts (Fall 2020) -Member of one of the top three winning teams of UTEP’s Bootcamp, resulting as an automatic pass to the CARES Grand Bootcamp Competition. Worked with team members on creating a business focusing on healthy fast food delivered to customers in El Paso, TX who are dealing with illnesses such as diabetes. Worked on customer findings, business pitch, and editing/making of the video presented with a pitch. Designed logo for the business.

Academic in Pandemic Exhibition by Ethical Metalsmiths (Summer 2020) -Chosen to showcase self-made jewelry virtually.

Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens: Artificial of Isolation Catalog (Spring 2020) -Work exhibited at the publication Artifacts of Isolation: Creative Responses during the Unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic, a collaborative project organized by the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens and the Jewelry and Metals Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Designed logo for a Chef’s business known as Caveman Cuisine (Summer 2021).

Designed business card for a New Mexico Real Estate Agent. (Summer 2020) Asked by a Helen of Troy employer to design their winter holiday shirts. (Fall 2020)- digital artwork.

InSPIRESS- Da Vinci School of Science and the Arts (Spring 2018) CEA (Community Engagement Activities) Member creating posters for upcoming events and/or fundraisers. Communicated with El Paso’s community to inform about team’s mission. Competed and presented with team members virtually with undergraduates of the University of Alabama in Huntsville against other local high schools from the US.

DANCE PERFORMANCES

REFRENCES Ramon Cardenas (915) 241-4614 Laurie Marshall (415) 612-0401 Paola Ramirez (915) 747-6736 Melissa Melpignano (310) 745-9709