Cynthia Duran is a New York City based dancer that uses her choreography as a form of activism to spark difficult dialogue. She began her training as a ballet dancer at Brooklyn Ballet and attended Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts where she performed Social Justice based works by American Ballet Theater and Jessica Lang. She also performed works by Carla Maxwell, Robert Battle, Iris Wilson, Tyler Gilstrap, and Yazzmeen Laidler. This led her to Springfield College where she is currently pursuing a BA in Dance and a BS in Therapeutic Recreation. Through her studies Duran is pursuing Therapeutic Recreation to work with youth in juvenile correctional facilities as well as become a professional dancer to use her artistic voice to cultivate change. As a Cultural Connections Leader with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, formerly known as the Office of Multicultural Affairs, she was given the opportunity to present in the IMPACT Conference and throughout the year in various presentations around intersectionality. For the continuation of her work around activism she became a part of the Latinx Student Organization. Through that organization she has assisted bringing more awareness of the Latinx community to Springfield College’s campus through keynote speakers and collaborations. Due to her passion for social justice she was given the opportunity to present choreographic work for Scholars in Action.
In her time at Springfield College Duran has performed works by Trisha Brown, Monica Bill Barnes, Andrea Vasquez Aguirre, Sarah Zehnder, Tara Murphy, and Jason Aryeh. Through the touring Dance Repertory Company, as a Repertory Rehearsal Assistant, she was chosen to perform in New York City’s DanceWave as well as being chosen to dance as a guest in Zehnder Dances new work. Duran has taught in public schools, studios, the Fresh Air Fund, and led warm up for the SC Dancers at Springfield College. She has choreographed works for Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts, Brooklyn Ballet, and for Springfield College’s Spring showcases. In her latest works she explored themes of grief, sorrow, and how universal these themes are. Her current work and research dives into sexual violence, systematic opression, incarceration, and otherism. Through art Duran is utilizing her artistic voice to invoke conversation surrounding these current issues in the upcoming senior show. She is captivated by dance's ability to bring people together to work as a community that brings positivity.
