Biography
Ana Miranda is a Cuban born Miami based dance artist and community builder. Ms. Miranda is trained internationally in dance technique and movement studies, constantly evolving her artistry to share with others as performer, choreographer, teacher and therapist. She has been on the dance faculty of universities, a presenter at local and national dance conferences, and an advocate for arts accessibility. In 2004, she founded the non-profit organization Art Works for Us, Inc. to fund creative projects and outreach programs.
Miranda’s extensive dance background includes training in ballet, jazz, modern/contemporary, Latin/swing dance, improvisation, Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis, Authentic Movement, yoga and flamenco. Her flamenco studies began in 1996 within the South Florida community and continued with courses lead by top Spanish artists at Flamenco Festival International in Albuquerque, Escuela de Baile in London, and studios in both Madrid and Seville, Spain. Miranda has performed with professional flamenco companies Bailes Ferrer and Siempre Flamenco in addition to forming her own troupes, Arte Compás Flamenco Ensemble and Gypsy Cat, a 5 pc band co-founded with guitarist and collaborator Carl Ferrari.
As choreographer and performer, Ana Miranda has increasingly experimented within the genres of contemporary dance and flamenco since 2006, evolving a style reflective of her cultural and artistic identity, nurtured through collaborations with other performing artists. Her vision continues to expand within the contemporary milieu, in and out of the world of flamenco, inclusive of all her experiences and influences. This exploration has become Ana Miranda Dance, a project based entity.
Miranda's choreography has been presented nationally and internationally. Her evening length productions Soule (2012) and Revolution/Evolution (2013) received critical acclaim and were presented at Miami Dade County Auditorium/Blackbox and 7th Circuit studios in Little Haiti, respectively. In 2015, her work Southern State, exploring connections between Flamenco and Mississippi Delta Blues, was presented at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center in NYC and her solo piece, Proverb was selected for Movement Research's 2016 Spring Season and presented at Judson Memorial Church in NYC. Later that year, she was selected for a residency at the Banff Centre in Alberta Canada, working with a cohort of multi-disciplinary artists. She presented a work in progress at Banff with Canadian pianist/composer Bruce Pretherick which later evolved into Tu Nostalgia, Mis Tacones, presented at the Coral Gables Art Museum selected as part of Compositum Musicae Novae's season in 2017. In the same year, Miranda was selected for an artist residency with post modern dance pioneer Deborah Hay in Austin Texas, with an international cohort of dancers. In 2018, she performed in a collaborative choreography, along with members of this cohort, for New Orlean's White Linen Night. The following year, Miranda performed her solo piece Proverb at the American Dance Therapy Association's national conference in Miami as part of their opening ceremonies.
Ana Miranda's choreographic work has been supported by Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs (Community Grants), Tigertail (Artist Access), Miami Dade County (CBO grants), Hollywood Beach Latin Festival, Miami Dade Parks and Recreation Arts and Culture, Miami Dade Public Library System, Suntrust Jazz Festival, The Field (Miami), Sleepless Nights Miami Beach, North Miami Arts Collective, Karen Peterson Dance, Dance Now, Rift Blackbox, Nova Southeastern University, Miami Dade College Kendall, Broward College, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Movement Research, in addition to corporate/individual donors. In the Miami area she has presented her work at the Miami Dade County Auditorium Onstage Blackbox, Inkub 8, The Colony Theater, Little Haiti Cultural Center, 7th Circuit Studios and the Charles Deering Estate in addition to outdoor festivals, theaters and music venues throughout the state of Florida.
Miranda has an MA in dance/movement therapy from Goucher College and an MFA in choreography from Jacksonvile University. While in residency at Jacksonville University/White Oak Plantation, she has worked with renowned contemporary artists such as Alonzo King, Michael Klien, Heather Hansen, Juri Nael, and Mario Zambrano in dance/movement and choreographic studies.
In her expansive career, Ana Miranda has consistently performed and presented work, sharing stages with internationally renowned artists, while maintaining her commitment to community outreach. In her diverse roles, Miranda's mission has been to honor the sanctity of the human spirit in the dancing body.