> bare dance company
“With its bold, athletic movement and theatricality – the latter clearly the coming together of Esperanza’s many talents – the company epitomizes the dance of the new millennium: shape-shifting, vernacular-blending with a prescient focus on the brave new world in which we live.”
BARE Dance Company was established in 2005 by Mike Esperanza with the help of Dance/ USA and the Irvine Foundation. Over the years, BARE’s versatile approach to movement has been described as “smart, effective, technically accomplished work.” - Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times. BARE has produced acclaimed productions in the Southern California area and has headlined events for the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center, The Center Orange County, Inland AIDS projects and the Epilepsy Foundation of Southern California. BARE was nominated for numerous Lester Horton awards for productions in the Southern California including “Manhattan”, a work selected by ODC Theater to tour CA as part of their 2011 “Innerstate” program. BARE was also awarded the paid engagement award at the 2011 Dance Under the Stars festival in Palm Spring, CA. BARE relocated to New York City in 2012 and has produced work for Danspace Project, Dixon Place, Peridance and Ailey Citigroup Theater. In 2014, BARE was selected to take part in the inaugural CUNY Dance Initiative and will produce a new work for LaGuardia Performing Arts Center.
“This is smart, affecting, technically accomplished work.”
“It was a delightful romp that melded innovation and fun.”
“The most emotionally charged dance on the program”
“Mr. Esperanza created captivating visuals of impeccable lines and shapes”
“he creates a rich world with simple visual and aural cues”
“Inventive and engaging”
““BARE Dance Company turned the stereotype of serious modern dance on its head with a fun piece demonstrating expressive capability, musicality, and a very connected delivery.””