By Caelin Grambau, University of Pittsburgh English Writing & Spanish double major
Irania Garcia is a Latinx dancer, choreographer, and most recently the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of IBG Movimiento. Although she wears many hats, she continues to bring her passion for dance into every part of her life.
While Garcia’s family is from El Salvador, Garcia herself was born in New York and raised in North Carolina. At the age of seven, she was given a scholarship to attend Charlotte Ballet Academy, where she studied and danced up until age eighteen.
After completing her time at Charlotte Ballet Academy, Garcia was recruited by Maria Caruso to dance at La Roche University and to teach, dance and tour with Caruso’s company, Bodiography. During her years dancing and touring with Bodiography, Garcia had the opportunity to work with dance icons such as Kim Jones and Patricia McBride, which not only helped her to flourish as a dancer, but as a teacher and advocate for the arts as well.
Although she loves to dance, Garcia is equally passionate about what goes on behind the scenes and in the studio. Between her time in school and her time spent touring and performing, Garcia has gained much experience in hospitality and arts administration.
“I love performing, but I also like being that voice and an advocate for the arts,” Garcia said while reflecting on the decision to dive into the background world of dance.
Now, in addition to dancing, Garcia is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of IBG Movimiento, a diverse dance company based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Garcia’s approach pulls from her past and focuses on highlighting diversity, different types of dance, and her Latinx voice. One of the questions she likes to ask is “how do we bring the arts together, from any kind of angle?”
For Garcia, the answer is to “investigate the meaning of moving throughout the whole body, being human, and to stimulate [the] inner soul”.
Through the IBG Movimiento company, Garcia offers eight different styles of dance, ranging from classical ballet to Latin fusion. As she notes, “Classical training is imperative, [but] versatility is just as important in today’s dance world.”
In addition to classes, IBG Movimiento also offers opportunities for professional dancers and adults looking to get involved in the world of dance. For more information on classes, schedules, and audition guidelines to dance or choreograph with the IBG company, check out their website. For additional questions, IBG Movimiento Co-Founder and Artistic Director Irania Garcia can be contacted directly via email.
