Curio Dance Company is a group of professional dancers, artistically directed by Dario and Giselle. The sibling duo have world-renowned experience choreographing, teaching and performing in national dance companies, Broadway shows, television, film, and full-length productions in the fine arts and commercial dance industries.

Mission

Through dazzling performances, Curio Dance honors diversity by blending classical, modern and urban forms of dance. Their artistry concerns the environment, is thought-provoking, and entertains.

Vision

Curio Dance believes that diversity is strength. Their choreography crosses genres of dance by combining styles of concert and street dance; ballet, modern, tap, contemporary, hip hop and latin dance. They bring artists together across cultures, combining folklore and urban movement. With an integrative and creative perspective that speaks to a broad audience, these crossover themes have been present in the past 7 productions of “Drop The Mic!” Performances titled, Hip Hop Dance Expressions, The Light Within, Actions Speak, Let the Sole Shine, Co-Operation, The Experience and Metamorphosized were successfully presented at the Guthrie Theater’s Dowling Studio and the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts.

Curio Dance nurtures the unity of every style and genre of dance and encourages younger choreographers to work amongst the more experienced. Together they fill the gap and create a place for belonging.

What Critics Have Said

“You can tell a dance performance has done its job when someone starts grooving in the aisle. On Friday night a tiny tot was busting some moves at intermission after cheering on a high-energy breakdance battle by House of Dance Twin Cities and Finisher’s Students. Someday that little guy will be spinning on his head, as well.”

“We’re global citizens, and this show reflects our tastes, our interests, our travels,” Dario said last week amid a rehearsal at the Cowles. He was talking about the “Mic” lineup. The 40-plus dancers perform in styles as varied as Latin and hip-hop, ballet, and ballroom. There is some rumba and African dance thrown in, as well.”

“Surrounded by total darkness, the outlines of their bodies and faces, as well as of all the objects on stage, appear to have been sculpted from glow sticks. Moving to a score by Christopher Tignor and Justin Keitt (a.k.a. Kanobby) that combines hip-hop, jazz, and classical influences, the performers look like candy-colored constellations that have dropped out of the sky for a party.”

“We’ve been seeking our entire life for those shows and performers that have the extra spark to be seen on stage,” Dario says. “My sister and I are always asking, ‘What is the magic in this situation? What if we move like this?’ Our real talent exists in our collaboration with each other and with others who have backgrounds from street dancing to Native American dance to Chinese martial arts to hip-hop to tap dancers — to reveal how beautiful our city is.”

“Brother/sister duo, Dario and Giselle Mejia, started Curio Dance only a little over a year ago but they have already received much praise. We get a sneak peek at a new dance and see how the siblings combine classical training with jazz, modern, and club, creating their own unique style.”

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