Staff Spotlight: Valentina Ferreyra Horrocks

Title:
Dance Coordinator (Argentina)

Photos

Valentina Ferreyra Horrocks is a dancer, choreographer and performer living in Cordoba, Argentina. She studied at the Universidad Provinceal de Cordoba - Ciudad De Las Artes in Dance Choreography and Pedagogy. She has performed in many competitions placing in high ranks at national and internationals venues. Horrocks has danced in New York, California, Brazil, Chile and more to name a few. In 2014 and 2015 she was an assistant choreographer for the International Congress of Jazz held in Cordoba, Argentina.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

For starters the founder of Dance Gap Year was my first international teacher. She was doing a gap year in Argentina and when I heard she was teaching Jazz, I asked to study under her.

That year helped me learn about dancing Contemporary and Jazz but mostly I learned how to branch out, explore new styles and dance with an independent voice. I now get to work alongside the founder and contribute my ideas to the structure of Dance Gap Year Argentina.

I have developed my own sense of choreographic style and noW that I share the history of Argentina with visitors, I am able to see my country's beauty through a different lens.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

It is hard to decide one over the other. For starters, New York is amazing! You get to explore the roots of Hip Hop, Jazz, and Modern as well as some of the greatest ballet companies in the world. That is what makes the New York program so unique.

Argentina on the other hand is so rich with its music, film and folklore culture. From hiking the incredible mountains of the Andes, gazing at the stars in Cumbrecita, performing site works in front of immaculate cathedrals or watching Tango and Folklore performed by some of the finest dancers in the world, you are sure to find what resonates with you.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We help people who want to learn about dance do so in an authentic and personal way.

The artists we work with are native to these destinations and hold a vast amount of knowledge and experience in their field of study.

To see my teacher learn about a country not her own and over time build a bridge of opportunity for others has really made me proud of our company. My first experience to New York was epic and each visit continues to show a constant growth in our project.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

We design our programs with locals native to the host country and we are always finding ways to implement community building and free educational opportunities for youth. This lends to paving a way for the next generation of dancers.