These photos of Andrea E. Woods Valdés where taken in a studio session on August 23 , 2011. Andrea E. Woods Valdés is a dancer/choreographer/video artist and a member of the Duke University Dance Program faculty. She is also artistic director of SOULOWORKS/Andrea E. Woods & Dancers and a staff writer for Attitude: The Dancer's Magazine. She is a native of Philadelphia, where she began her dance training with Jean Williams at Germantown Dance Theater. She graduated magna cum laude from Adelphi University, holds an MFA in dance technology from The Ohio State University and an MAH in Caribbean Cultural Sutdies from SUNY Buffalo. She resides in Durham, NC.

On the stage, her dancing is characterized by grace and a warm presence. I hope these photos capture that persona.

In the summer of 2012, she was awarded one of the 18 2012-1013  North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Awards (in the categories of choreography).

For more information about her work with Souloworks, see http://www.souloworks.com.