Sparrow Dance

Sparrow Dance 

Sparrow Dance Productions, a Modern and Contemporary Ballet Company, was originally founded in New York, NY in 2010 by Director and Choreographer, Christina A. Daly.  After Sparrow’s first season, Daly felt that it was time for her to move back to her home in New Mexico and contribute to the dance world there.  Since returning to New Mexico, Daly has  continued her works with Sparrow Dance.  The Company has proven to be strong, versatile, and easily adaptable to any performance venue.

Sparrow dancers have been known to rehearse along the Rio Grande River and perform anywhere from The African American Performing Arts Center to The Wheel Museum in Downtown Albuquerque.  The Company openly welcomes collaborations with other artists throughout the community such as musicians, photographers, and visual artists.

Sparrow Dance Productions aims to open the eyes and minds of audiences of all ranges through dance.  The Company consists of dancers who, aside from from being strong dancers, are intelligent and educated individuals that contribute to the choreography and content of each piece, offering dynamics unique to Sparrow Dance Productions.  The Company members possess a familial mentality and bond that makes each performance intimate and easy for audiences to relate to.

An Albuquerque native, Christina Daly began her training with Ballet Repertory Theatre before transitioning to the Virginia School of the Arts. Daly trained with VSA intensively on scholarship for two years, as well as with the schools at Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. Upon her acceptance to SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, she graduated high school early to earn her BFA in Dance Performance. Accomplishments during her college career include: earning a Minor Degree in Asian Studies, training at Taipei National University of the Arts, premiering her first choreographic work in representation of SUNY Purchase at New York, NY’s world renowned Dance Theatre Workshop, performing two featured roles for an original Dianne McIntyre work and graduating summa cum laude.

Following college, Daly launched her dance company, Sparrow Dance Productions, doing numerous productions throughout New York. Since returning to New Mexico, Sparrow Dance Productions has performed at The African American Performing Arts Center, The Wheel Museum in Downtown Albuquerque, and Santa Fe Fashion Week 2012. She is thrilled to announce her new partnership with Julie Tuccillo-Stracener as an incredible addition to Sparrow Dance Productions. Daly also continues dancing with and teaching at her home company, BRT. In her most recent performance with Ballet Repertory Theatre, Daly was featured, with great honor, as Carmen in Alex Ossadnik’s ballet, Carmen. Christina Daly’s joy and passion for her dance is further demonstrated in her position as the dance teacher for Rio Rancho Middle – the only public middle school in New Mexico with a full-time dance program. She is looking forward to another incredible year with Rio Rancho Middle School and the 2013-2014 Season with Sparrow Dance Productions.

Julie Tuccillo-Stracener began her ballet training with Marla Hirokawa at Covenant Dance Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.  She performed with Covenant Dance Theatre, Ballet for Young Audiences and Dances Patrelle before finishing high school in Albuquerque, NM.  Upon moving to Albuquerque she continued her dance training with Ballet Repertory Theatre until attending College at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.  After achieving a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry she returned to the dance world performing first with Ballet Repertory Theatre, then City Ballet of San Diego and Tulsa Ballet.  In 2003 Julie returned to Albuquerque for a guest appearance as Cinderella with Ballet Repertory Theatre.  Since then she has danced various prinicipal and soloist roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream all while teaching ballet, acting as the Ballet Mistress for Ballet Repertory Theatre’s Junior Company and working as an organic chemist.  In 2011 Julie became ballet mistress of Ballet Repertory Theatre while attending Pharmacy School.  She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2012 and now works as a Pediatric Pharmacist for the University of New Mexico Hospital.  Julie is thrilled to join Christina Daly and begin her first season with Sparrow Dance Productions.