Cruz Control

Photo By: Deborah Boardman

by Deni Kasrel

dance

Heidi Cruz is stoked about her upcoming show at the Community Education Center. A member of Pennsylvania Ballet, Cruz has also been choreographing a bit in the last five years, however, this is the first full-length program of her own creation. "It's been amazing to develop the work," enthuses Cruz, who is eager to showcase her special brand of "no-holds-barred" dance.

"I was trained in ballet, tap and jazz growing up and I fuse all of that together," she explains. "Also, although I never officially studied modern, I feel my work is modern and there's also African movement. I just go with whatever my natural tendencies are based on the music. The music is the backbone of my creation."

The production is a family-and-friends affair: Two of Cruz's sisters perform (one's a dancer and the other's a spoken-word artist), so does her boyfriend David Austin (a member of Rennie Harris Puremovement), and the rest of the performers are pals from the Ballet and Philadanco. Selections include "Crossing Waters," featuring upbeat rhythmic syncopated gesture that, according to Cruz, is "very flashy, in-your-face physical."

"Atardeser Azul," a portion of which premiered at last year's Shut Up and Dance event, is presented in fuller form. Done to the songs of Susana Baca, an Afro-Peruvian artist, Cruz says the 30-minute work-in-progress features "a couple different stories. It's just an insight into the lives of ordinary people. The unifying thread is that they're all down-to-earth."

Heidi Cruz, Fri.-Sat., March 18-19, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 20, 3 p.m.; $8-$10, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911.