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When Miro Dance Theater was founded in 2004, dancer and choreographer Amanda Miller and video and visual artist Tobin Rothlein were two very different artists. But they shared a vision of a melting-pot-style studio where participants could share their ideas in a boundless setting.

The studio’s newest project has that same take-all-comers mentality, combining artistic styles from across a broad spectrum. How Am I Not Myself is an exploration of identity told through varying styles of expression from dance to music to video. Viji Rao, founder of Philadelphia’s Threeaksha Institute of Performing Arts, will join Miro co-Artistic Director and choreographer Amanda Miller, in an exploration of ballet, bharatanatyam “” a classical dance from Southern India “” and contemporary dance while navigating the questions: “Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going?”

Visiting composer and multi-percussion instrumentalist Praveen D Rao, of Bangalore, India, and Usha Gupta, dancer and North Indian Vocalist of Edmonton, Canada, will also accompany with a live musical performance. Slated to premiere in India in December 2008, How Am I Not Myself is directed by Miro’s co-Artistic Director and video and visual artist Tobin Rothlein, who is documenting the dancers’ transition from classical to contemporary. This project combines the original vision of Miller and Rothlein to create a place for artists to express themselves.

To further continue this vision beyond the current project, Miro hosts an audience discussion group after witnessing the first phase of the project so attendees can be a part of the creative process. The discussion is part of Miro’s ongoing open studio program that opened in December 2006. Miro brings varied resources to the often cashpoor artistic community of Philadelphia. MLab is a multimedia lab that helps visual artists realize their design goals and get their work seen. Miro Dance Theatre offers a variety of master classes, choreographic workshops, interactive lecture demonstrations, and open rehearsals that allow students to better understand the style of mashup dance presentation and integration of visual art into live theater and dance.

Through a partnership with Girard College, Miro is able to provide dance, creative, multimedia and artistic instruction to students grades 1-12 with limited financial opportunities. In exchange, Girard gives Miro the studo space they require to make their artistic vision come to pass.

You can check out the fruits of their labor Thursday, June 26th, 6:30 p.m. “” 8:30 p.m. Miro Studio at Girard College 2101 South College Ave. (at Girard Ave. & Corinthian Ave.) Its free to get in and refreshments will be provided. So come pay your respects to the Miro mashup, allowing a multitude of artists to get in on the fun.

Miro Studio @ Girard College
2101 South College Ave, Philadelphia, PA