What's your story?
Gosh! How far back do you want me to start? My name is Candy Jimenez and I am a Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, and I am the Artistic Director of Dulce Dance Company. I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Education at Arizona State University. I believed that I didn't need a degree to prove that I can dance and choreograph, but that if I wanted an easier time finding a job that involved and kept me closer to dance, a degree would certainly make things easier. It has. I also teach dance at Cesar Chavez High School. Teaching at Cesar Chavez has helped me be more successful with dance including giving me tools to utilize with Dulce Dance. I found even more love of dance through teaching. Dancing and Choreographing give me great outlets towards expression and fulfill me as an artist, but teaching dance to other people, especially youth is fulfilling and gives me the opportunity to show the power of dance. I am able to give back by helping dance to thrive. I come from a big family with seven children and most of us have been touched by art. The whole family is still in the Phoenix area.
I earned my BFA at Arizona State University and was awarded the “Outstanding Undergraduate Dance Major” from the National Dance Association. I continued my training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. Upon returning to the Valley, I joined Desert Dance Theatre as a Core Dancer, Choreographer, and Associate Artistic Director. Through my work and studies with Desert Dance Theatre, Arizona State University, Alvin Ailey, New York, and Dulce I’ve worked with choreographers/artists such as Cliff Keuter, Elina Mooney, Lee Berger, Neta Pulvamacher, Jennifer Tsukayma, Mary Fitzgerald, Nina Watt, Denise Jefferson, HT Chen, Billbob Bown, Marion Jones, and teachers of Donald McKayle Intensive. I recently worked with Pamela Pietro in performing a solo work about dark places. I share my love of dance with my students at Cesar Chavez High School where I’ve taught for the past 11 years. Wanting more of a choreographic voice and wanting to make change within the dance community in Arizona, I founded Dulce Dance Company and have been the Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Dancer for the company for the past 7 years. I’ve also worked with Phoenix Artist Lee Berger and composer James Cerrachio in a new artistic production, Pensive Beauty. Pensive Beauty is a sensual provocative piece about an artist’s life, losses, and adventures. I recently tried my talents in acting and was involved in The Vagina Monologues just this season.
Where are you originally from and why PHX?
I am originally from Texas. I moved from there when I was eight years old so basically Phoenix is my home. My family had to start over here in Phoenix, as the economy and farming got very rough in Texas during that time. My dad brought us here, where we have stayed. I decided to stay in Phoenix as an adult but in the beginning I very much wanted to go off to a bigger city and dance. My family and ties kept me here and I thought why does it have to be a big city for me to do what I love. I decided that as Phoenix becomes a major big city it should have something to offer and that it was up to me to make that happen. So now, instead of me going through the trenches of the masses in trying to do what I love in a bigger city, I am here helping to lead it in Phoenix.
What's the future hold for PHX?
Well this is Dulce's 7th season and we continue to grow. My plan is to keep the company here in Phoenix where it has planted its roots and to cultivate a Phoenix dance community. There is a community here, but it still has a lot of growth to do and it still has to reach a wider audience. Dulce is part of the vision and I will head it. I want Dulce to outlive me and to continue strong in this city. I want to open Phoenix's eyes to dance, my dance, and the dance of Dulce Dance Company. I want to impress upon people where they may be inspired, enriched, and motivated to express themselves.
Visit us at www.dulcedancecompany.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/Dulcedancecompany
Photographers: Hector Primero & Brenda Davis
Models: Candy Jimenez, Liliana Gomez & Dulce Dance Co
Location: Inside Phoenix Center of The Arts 1202 N. 3rd St Phoenix, AZ 85003