Christine Cali
Department Chair, Associate Professor, Co-Director of the Dance Program
Contact
Office
Ives Hall 205Office Hours
What I Do at SSU
I teach in the Dance Program as well as General Education courses within the Theatre Arts & Dance Department. I instruct all levels of Contemporary/Modern Dance from a somatic approach, Choreography, Dance History, Critical Thinking and Foundations focusing on improvisation and embodiment. Social justice, inclusivity, identity and feminist perspectives are currents running though all of my teaching. I direct our Student Fall Dance Concert, utilizing Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process (CRP) as well as creating original work on our dance students for our Spring Faculty & Guest Concerts. My company, CALI & CO dance is highly active in San Francisco, producing multiple performances and workshops throughout the year including, WAH! Fest, Practice-to-Performance and our home seasons.
My Bio
Named “one of the most ferocious, spell-binding dancers I’ve seen in this city (San Francisco)” by Rachel Howard (SF Chronicle), Christine holds an MFA from Hollins University/ADF 06' where she was on a Teaching Fellowship, and BFA with honors from Ohio University 97'. She is the Artistic Director of CALI & CO dance and has been teaching, performing and choreographing for two decades nationally and internationally. Christine is an Assistant Professor in the Theatre Arts & Dance Department at Sonoma State University, on faculty at ODC Dance Commons in San Francisco, and has developed and leads CALI & CO’s popular Practice-to-Performance© workshops since 2010.
Christine tours regularly as a guest artist and teacher and has taught and/or performed at Alonzo King’s LINES BFA program, A.C.T. MFA Acting program, University of San Francisco, The Branson School, The Marin School of The Arts, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Sacramento State University, Scottsdale Community College, Niagara County Community College, University of Wyoming, University of South Florida, Mendocino College, Ohio University, Arizona State University, Hollins University, SungKyunKwan University in Seoul, S Korea, The Ambrit School in Rome, Italy, Lewiston Dance Center, The American Dance Festival, as well as workshops in Japan, China, Canada and more.
Christine recently collaborated and performed with the Brooklyn-based dance company Urban Bush Women (Jan/Feb 2019) for their New York premiere of Hair & Other Stories, examining how one’s hair shapes ideas of identity and more specifically, race dynamics in America. Her creative work with the San Francisco-based CALI & CO dance is focused on equitable practices in art making, embodying innovative approaches to choreography, live music, collaboration and performance. Her work has been performed at The Cowell Theatre/Fort Mason, ODC Theatre, Z-Space, Venue 9, The Garage, Safehouse for the Arts, Dance Mission Theatre, Little Boxes Theatre, Joe Goode Annex, The Supper Club, The Exit Theatre, Dancer’s Group/Foot Works, Brady Street, ROCO Dance/Marin Convention Center, CounterPulseSF, Jon Sims Center for the Arts, and commissioned for the West Wave Dance Festival, Summer Performance Festival/SPF7, The San Francisco International Arts Festival (2014, 15’, 16’ 19’), Saeng Saeng Festival, Seoul International Improvisation Festival, The Asian Art Museum/Divine Bodies Exhibit, and more.
Christine has received numerous grants, awards and commissions for her work, here are a few highlights:
- The San Francisco International Arts Festival Invitation, (2014, 15’, 16’, 19’)
- Yerba Buena Night Commissioning Project, 2018
- Sonoma State University RSCAP Summer Fellowship, 2018
- Dancer’s Group CASH GRANT Award for her new work: ADAPT, 2018
- Sonoma State University RSCAP Mini Grant, 2017
- Nominated for 'Best Dance Class' in San Francisco Magazine's Best of 2015
- Nominated for Marin Headlands Artist in Residence Program 2015/16
- Green Music Center Academic Integration Grant 2015/16
- Audience Choice Award, sjDANCEco Choreo Festival 2014
- Visiting Guest Professorship at Sung Kyun Kwan University, Seoul, South Korea 2006-08'
- Hollins University/ADF Teaching Fellowship, 2004-06'
- Nominated for 2 Isadora Duncan Awards 2003-04’
- Best Choreography Award, Dance Repertory SF Visions Series 1999, 2001