Mika Santo, co-director of the dance organization STYX The Company, is a guest choreographer for this year’s DanceWorks, an annual series of dance performances held by the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts. DanceWorks will take place in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
Madison Cantor, senior dance major, remembers when Santo came to the DanceWorks auditions in August. Santo led the students through improvisational dances and gave them dance prompts.
“It has been very exciting. It’s been something different, getting to work with someone who is in the professional environment in terms of owning their own dance company down here in South Florida,” Cantor said. “It was so exciting to see her get excited watching us as we were moving and almost feel inspired to move herself.”
Santo, 25, started dancing when she was 5. Since then, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at New World School of the Arts and choreographed for a dance convention, The PULSE on Tour. She also choreographed a music video for Becky G and KEVVO and co-founded STYX The Company in 2022.
“It’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m excited to extend my knowledge and my creativity to the dancers at Nova and to whoever attends DanceWorks,” Santo said.
Elana Lanczi, associate professor and director of DCMA’s dance program, was able to watch Santo work with students as they prepare for DanceWorks.
“I got a sneak peek, and I think that she’s really challenging them, and I think the piece is going to be really beautiful. It features obviously our dancers, but it also features some of the members of her company as well,” Lanczi said.
Santo describes her work as authentic, playful and unique. She’s excited for people to see her choreography at DanceWorks.
“I feel like whenever you go to a performance, you are opening up your heart and your mind to whatever the dancers and the choreographers have to share,” Santo said. “I think the audience can go in with no expectations and just absorb all of the real information and performance that the dancers have to give.”
Cantor enjoys working with someone from a professional dance company and thinks it provides more opportunities and insights for NSU students.
“Having someone like Mika bring that knowledge in, I think is just so amazing. It’s just great. I really hope that people take advantage of that, and I hope that she also enjoys working with us,” Cantor said.
For students who are interested in learning how to dance, Santo suggests that they start with what feels good.
“Something I’ve learned a lot, I feel like in my more recent years of dance, is that dance has to feel good. You can’t force it, and never be afraid to be a beginner at something,” Santo said.
Santo encourages people to attend the DanceWorks performances in November.
“I hope to see more people pulling up for the community and supporting live arts, because without the arts, we are nothing.”
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