On the afternoon of Sept. 11, the walls of the Columbia Music Festival Association dance studio are lined with chairs filled with curious observers on one side and anxious dancers on the other. At the center of attention is Miriam Barbosa, a petite, muscular woman with volumes of black hair. The lithe dancer being so easily draped and passed between her male counterparts is the one responsible for the formation of the recently formed South Carolina Contemporary Dance Company (SCCDC) and the creation of the piece they will perform this Thursday at the Koger Center. The company will make its formal debut with Catharsis, an artistic union between Barbosa’s choreography and the artwork of Marcelo Novo.
 

Photo by Natasha Derrick

Barbosa, a native of Brazil, began her contemporary dance journey by learning in the studios of dance pioneer Martha Graham. She eventually joined Graham’s company in 1998, in addition to dancing and choreographing across the globe. In 2002, one year after the birth of her daughter, Barbosa was offered a contemporary dance faculty position in the dance department at the University of South Carolina.
“It was a better place to raise my child,” Barbosa says. “I really enjoy the lifestyle here.”

After six years at USC, Barbosa decided it was time to strike out on her own and fulfill her dream of building a dance company. The idea began to take shape in 2007, and by 2008 Barbosa left USC to focus on recruiting dancers and raising funds.

She was soon joined by co-executive directors Marvin Chernoff and Chuck LaMark who aided in the procurement of nonprofit 501(c)3 status for the company as well as added fundraising heft — a challenge for any arts organization in today’s lethargic economy.
“Of course I worry about funding,” Chernoff says during a phone interview. “But I think the work [Barbosa] does is really special. I keep hearing these comments about Columbia having all these dance companies. I’m proud of all the companies we have.”
 

Catharsis is a collaboratie effort between Miriam Barbosa and painter Marcelo Novo [work pictured]

SCCDC is entering a vibrant and rather crowded Columbia dance market that boasts two ballet companies, Columbia City Ballet and Columbia Classical Ballet, as well as USC’s nationally renowned company. On the more modern end, there are the Vibrations Dance Company, Columbia College’s Power Company, Columbia City Jazz Dance Company, Unbound and Sapphire Moon. They are all competing for audiences and some for funding, both public and private. SCCDC has yet to land a large corporate sponsor for this show, but Chernoff is confident that after this Thursday’s performance the task will be a little bit easier.

In addition to the performance of Barbosa’s Catharsis, the company will also present Graham’s Maple Leaf Rag, a first for any company besides Graham’s and only made possible through a grant awarded by the South Carolina Arts Commission.

Finding dancers capable of learning both Barbosa’s and Graham’s work was made easier by Barbosa’s connections to the community. She trained many dancers in the contemporary style during her years at USC, and she decided to call on a few to join the company.

“When I heard from her I was excited,” says former student Harley Brunson. “I was a bit worried, but I knew she could get me right back to where I was physically.”

Brunson trained with Barbosa from 2002-2004 and will appear in both Maple Leaf Rag and Catharsis. Barbosa also recruited long-time friend and former USC colleague Serguei Chtyrkov as a principle dancer, who partners with her in both pieces. In order to fill out her roster of 18, Barbosa turned to Columbia City Ballet’s artistic director William Starrett who responded by allowing five of his dancers to join her company during his off-season.

“I gave her names of those dancers who I knew would like to experiment with this type of dance,” Starrett says. “I knew it would help the dancers as well to work with a new style of dance. It is also important that we partner with other organizations.”

As a leader in the dance community for many years, Starrett recognizes the incredible challenge Barbosa has in presenting not only a new company but also a new dance form to Columbia. But she remains unfazed.

“This premiere is going to be the doors that open to the next journey for the company,” she says. “I was never worried, because I feel that Columbia is the Southeast capital of dance. I hope this is just the beginning.” 

The South Carolina Contemporary Dance Company’s premiere gala is at the Koger Center on Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $31 for the general public and $8 to $25 for students, seniors and military. Tickets are available online at capitoltickets.com, by phone at 251-2222 and at the Coliseum box office.