Rulan Tangen is a lifelong dance artist, creatrix , dreamvisioner whose eco-somatic dance practice serves as a functional ritual for ecology, to evoke transformation and healing. As the Founding Artistic Director/Choreographer of DANCING EARTH , she has passionately cultivated successive generations of local and global contemporary performing artists as intercultural creative ambassadors and conduits for social change. A recipient of the Kennedy Center Citizen Artist fellowship award for Service, Justice, Freedom, Courage, and Gratitude, she continues to intuit and cultivate expressions and movement methodologies, and local/hemispheric/global collaborations and interdisciplinary partnerships for movement as a multi dimensionally connective force.
On a personal level, I have long been compelled to create a portrait honoring my long time friend Rulan— who happens to be one of the most creative, original, brilliant, beautiful & powerful Humans I have ever encountered. Throughout the extreme trials & tribulations that she has faced in her life— both on a personal & a professional level— she remains undaunted in her commitment to her creative path, & moves with unwavering compassion, humility, & grace. In the piece celebrating her, I have used ephemera gathered all over the world : playing cards, matchbox from Istanbul, a tattoo flyer from Rome, henna boxes from Pakistan, seed packets, and more, all of which reference Rulan’s unique beauty & the queen & goddess that she is!
