06 Nov Rufi Oswaldo (he/him)

Originally from Guatemala, Rufi has led a richly eclectic dance career informed by complementary intellectual pursuits for over 20 years. Initially a competitor in “Latin” dancesport, he pivoted to contemporary dance a decade ago, in search of deeper creative and socially conscious means of artistic expression. This search led him to the University of Calgary dance program, where he earned a BA in dance with distinction, before completing a Master’s degree in dance at York University. Through that same institution, Oswaldo is currently pursuing a PhD in performance studies to investigate the dynamics between interpersonal touch, gender, and race in dance. 

For the last 6 years, he has performed and choreographed for Project Oswald, an ad hoc interdisciplinary dance production company. His artistic and scholarly work has brought him across Canada, USA, Poland, Malta, Mexico, and Cuba, and has garnered support from many organizations, notably, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Oswaldo’s life experience as an immigrant and part of the 2S/LGBTQ+ community has led him to develop a strong sense of empathy, as well as practical strategies for boldly, yet kindly, increasing equity. When reflecting on the possibilities inherent in his new role, Rufi says “Sasha Ivanochko leaves us with a clear path and a shining example to follow. A call to lead is a call to serve, and I look forward to serving the Alberta dance community as the Artistic Director of Dancers’ Studio West. Moving forward, my hope for dance in Alberta is to further deepen our sense of community, nuance our creative exchange, and make space for a wider diversity of perspectives. Alberta is truly a special place for dance. I am excited to work with all of you to make it better!”