SOULOWORKS/Andrea E. Woods & DANCERS

Artistic Bio

 

Dancer/choreographer/video artist/musician Dr. Andrea E. Woods Valdés is the Artistic Director of SOULOWORKS/Andrea E. Woods & Dancers.  Woods Valdés is also an associate professor at Duke University and a former director of Duke In Ghana summer study 2012-2014. She received her Ph.D. in Dance from Texas Woman's University with a research focus on embodied Black aesthetics, Black women choreographers, and spirit. A native of Philadelphia, Woods began her dance training with Jean Williams at Germantown Dance Theater.  After graduating magna cum laude from Adelphi University, she danced with Clive Thompson, Mafata, Leni Wylliams and Saeko Icinohe.  Woods Valdés is a former dancer and rehearsal director of Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Co. (1989-1995). 

 

Woods Valdés has received grants from  The Jerome Foundation, (NEFA) The National Dance Project, National Performance Network and Arts International.  Woods Valdés is an American Antiquarian Society Fellow. Her artistic work and research have taken her to The Cannes International Danse Festival, Taiwan, Russia, Senegal, Morocco, Korea, Poland, Singapore, Belize, The Domican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Barbados and throughout the US.  She has done collaborative works with musicians:  Randy Weston, David Pleasant, Tiyé Giraud, Madeleine Yayodele Nelson, Tia Hanna, Philip Hamilton, Julia Price and Shana Tucker and spoken word artist, hattie gossett. Andrea was part of the American Dance Festival Faculty 2000 - 2007. 

 

In 1999, she completed her MFA in dance technology at The Ohio State University and currently creates live performance works as well as video dances.  Her videodances have been screened at BRIC (Brooklyn Information and Culture), Brooklyn Arts Exchange, BAAD, Brooklyn Museum of Art MassMoCa and the Wexner Center.  She has been guest faculty and choreographer at:  Medgar Evers College, Howard University, Ohio University, Rhode Island College, California State University Long Beach, North Carolina School of the Arts, Hollins University, Spelman College and Goucher College. She was adjunct faculty at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, teaching modern dance and Dance for the Camera (2002-2007).  Woods Valdés also holds an MAH from SUNY Buffalo in Caribbean Cultural Studies. She calls her dances SOULOWORKS because they are works from the heart, works from the soul.