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Company Bio
José Ivan Ibarra and Pete Litwinowicz came together to form Dance Continuum SF in January 2007. “Continuus” is a Latin word that translates to “connected together” or “uninterrupted,” and both meanings describe the way Pete and Jose feel about dance; something that brings us closer together via an unending spirituality and physicality. Dance Continuum SF serves as an exciting outlet for their distinct styles, and a way to capitalize on their synergy as artists. Both José and Pete seek to create theater and dance pieces that reveal something about us as individuals, and as contributors of a larger community. It is hoped that audiences should see something of themselves in the dances being viewed.
Pete Litwinowicz' Biography
Pete Litwinowicz moved to the Bay Area in 1987 and immediately found outlets for his dance “habit,” taking classes and being influenced by Limon, Cunningham, classical ballet, and Luigi techniques. His style mixes lyricism and softness with the seemingly disparate qualities of power and physicality. His most influential mentor was Cheryl Chaddick, the artistic director of Company Chaddick, for whom he has danced since 1996. Pete starting creating his own works in 1993 and has shown his works at the ODC Theater, UC Santa Cruz, Dance Visions, Foothill College and various other venues around the Bay Area. Pete has served on the faculty at San Francisco Dance Center and at Western Ballet, among several other schools. In his other job, Pete is a visual effects software developer and sometime artist for the motion picture and video industries, and has won several awards including an Academy Award©; an Ars Electronica Golden Nica (Austria); an Imagina Award (Monaco) for Best Visual Effects and Visual Innovation.
José Ivan Ibarra's Biography
José Ivan Ibarra's journey and love affair with movement began at U.C. Santa Barbara in 1985. Upon discovering the joy of expression through the use of the body, he dedicated all his efforts to nurturing his new passion. The first dance technique that Mr. Ibarra learned was that of José Limon. Limon's style of movement had a profound impact in Ibarra's dancing and choreography not only because Limon was a great male dancer and choreographer but also because Limon was Mexican. Mr. Ibarra has studied with Mark Morris, Joe Goode, Gary Masters, Cheryl Chaddick, Claudine Naganuma, and Margaret Wingrove. Immediately after graduating from U.C.S.B. Mr. Ibarra started his choreography career by creating “Raiz Viva,” for the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance. Since then his work has been performed nationally in his home town of San Francisco, as well as, San Jose, Los Angeles, Hilo and New York, and internationally, in Mexico, China and Japan.
The San Francisco Chronicle described Mr. Ibarra as dancing with a “Steely dignity.” The San Jose Mercury News has characterized Mr. Ibarra's choreography as “visceral and haunting.” His solo dance, “Where is Thumkin,” about a runaway child was chosen as the Critic's Choice Solo Dance of the Year for 1993. This year when discussing “Sola,” his new work created for sjDANCEco, the Mercury News said he has a “flair for mixing social and concert impulses.”
Between performances and rehearsals, Mr. Ibarra manages to squeeze in a career as a Kindergarten teacher. He has also recently participated in his first gallery opening of paintings.
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