28. Brigid Baker

In honor of our Artopia party on February 10, Cultist proudly presents “100 Creatives,” where we feature Miami’s cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email cultist@miaminewtimes.com with the whos and whys.

28. Brigid Baker

Choreographer and dance instructor Brigid Baker breaks traditional instruction of ballet by combining quantum physics, body movement, and spiritual mysteries. She has a scientific mind combined with an artistic soul motivated the development of “Lightbody Movement,” a practice that allows her students to greater understand and strengthen the body while expanding body movement and surpassing expectations.

Baker combined her extensive study of dance, inspiration from healing

practices — including Juliu Horvath Gyrokenisis, Network Spinal

Analysis, Breathwork, Qigong, and CranioSacral Therapies — and cosmic

law to create “Lightbody.”

The Director of the 6th Street Dance

Studio and Whole Project, a contemporary dance company based in Little

Havana, Baker utilizes her studio to create a safe environment dedicated

to breaking the “barriers of racism, sexism, classism, and all other

forms of small mindedness” where performing artists can develop their

craft.
 
An Atlantic Foundation Philantrophies Grantee for her

creative work to promote human rights, she invites people to become

active participants in the creative process by attending events at her

studio and hand-making the sets that decorate her eco-friendly studio.

She

is currently working on several projects, including a surprise

choreography for a local unnamed artist and a piece called Ganguruu

(Kangaroo in an Aboriginal dialect). In addition to choreographing new

pieces and teaching locally, she travels internationally to teach

“Lightbody Movement” and ballet classes.

A native of New York,

Baker holds her BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase and received dance

training with legendary teachers, dancers, and choreographers including

Maggie Black, David Howard, Lawrence Rhodes, Finis Jhung, Merce

Cunningham, and Martha Graham.

1. List five things that inspire you.
    -Nature
    -Light
    -Spirit
    -Geometry
    -Humanity

2. What was your last big project?

Today. The one I just had [teaching her class], and the one we are doing right now.

3. What’s your next big project?

The one we are having. Right now is all we have. It is full engagement.

4. Why do you do what you do?

Because I must. Because it is there. Because I love.

5. What’s something you want Miami to know about you?

I have an open invitation to explore this terrain with me. Let’s explore it together.

What’s something you don’t want Miami to know about you?

It doesn’t matter. I believe in transparency.

— By Maame-Mensima Horne of artburstmiami.com

The Creatives so far:

29. Daniel Fila
30. McLaine Oberhellmann
31. Fro Rojas
32. Annie Hollingsworth
33. Preston Allen
34. Cristina Molina
35. David Josef Tamargo
36. Jillian Mayer
37. Alfonso Vega
38. Natasha Lopez de Victoria
39. Aholsniffsglue

40. Heather Maloney
41. Jorge Rubiera
42. Elaine Lancaster
43. Nick Duckart
44. Danielle Estefan
45. John Dufresne
46. Monica Lopez de Victoria
47. Bill Bilowit
48. Alette Simmons-Jimenez
49. Tawnie Silva
50. Ginger Bardot
51. Jonathan David Kane
52. Naomi Fisher
53. Rocky Grimes
54. Teresa Barcelo
55. Paul Tei
56. Lee Materazzi