Stoneham Native Dances Her Way Back to New England

Stoneham native Alicia Christofi may live in Ireland now, but she'll be making her way home to Massachusetts for dance performances in Cambridge on Jan. 22-23.

Alicia Christofi, 33, is a founding member of Expandance along with Laurie Schneider and Artistic-Director Rachel Wynne. Expandance is a transatlantic contemporary dance theatre company based in New York City, Dublin and Wicklow. However, she calls Donard, Ireland in County Wicklow home.

Alicia Christofi's Roots

In 2001, Alicia Christofi graduated from The Boston Conservatory and relocated to New York City to dance professionally where she met her husband. In 2005, Alicia Christofi and her husband moved back to County Wicklow where her husband is originally from.

“Ireland has a very close-knit and supportive contemporary dance community and I found it very easy to settle in to work there,” Alicia Christofi said.

Shows in New England

Alicia Christofi will be making her homecoming when she performs at the Oberon, 2 Arrow St. in Harvard Square, Cambridge on Jan. 22-23 at 8 p.m. She also will be performing on Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. in New York City at Dance New Amsterdam, WIP Series, 280 Broadway on the second floor (entrance on Chambers).

“(People should attend the shows) to see a new cutting-edge piece, Cnoic Chlaonta (Sloping Hills), choreographed and performed by myself and Irish dance artist Ailish Claffey,” Alicia Christofi said. “This work tells a tale of an unorthodox modern Ireland and it will give the audience a sense of understanding of the Irish landscape and its people.

“The piece is set to a beautiful soundscape composed by Tom Lane, interweaving Puccini’s opera 'Tosca,' with text and song and original costumes are designed by Petra Hjortsberg.”

Getting Experience

Alicia Christofi said that most large towns in Ireland have art centers where she often performs and holds workshops at art centres near her home.

“I teach classes for older people on a regular basis at the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow and recently started a performing troupe for older people at the theatre,” Alicia Christofi said. “I have performed in New York City at Joyce Theatre, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Joyce Soho, Greenspace, Queens Museum of Art, APAP, New York International Fringe Festival and The World Financial Centre amongst others.”

Alicia Christofi has also performed Projects Arts Centre as part of the first Project Brand New, The Courthouse Arts Centre, The Lab, Riverbank Arts Centre, Imagine Arts Festival in Waterford, The Backloft, Birr Arts Centre and The Backstage Theatre.

The former Stonehamite said she generally performs to contemporary music and often original soundscores that may be composed of classical music, text, and sound. Each piece differs depending on the theme of the work.

The Decision to Move

Alicia Christofi said she has never regretted her decision to move to Ireland and teach dance.

“Irish are very warm, open people and are a pleasure to teach,” Alicia Christofi said. “I’ve definitely been able to develop my choreographic skills since moving to Ireland as the community, arts organizations, government are very supportive of artists. I’ve been lucky enough to receive funding for my work from Dance Ireland, Culture Ireland and Wicklow County Council.”

Dancing in Ireland

Alicia Christofi generally works from home in her studio or she commutes almost two hours to work in DanceHouse in Dublin’s City Centre. DanceHouse is a purpose built facility run by Dance Ireland, where artists hold rehearsals and take classes and workshops. According to Alicia Christofi, Dance Ireland (Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland) also grants residencies to artists and is an extremely supportive organization.

Family Support

Marielle Christofi, Alicia’s sister, realized that her sister was talented enough to make a career in dancing when each were little.

“Alicia is five years older than me and when we were growing up we constantly put on dance shows in the living room for the rest of the family. We’d sing and dance our little hearts out while the rest of the family patiently applauded, however, Alicia was always a bit more into it than I was,” Marielle Christofi said. “She had a certain talent of always getting ‘all eyes on her’. Even at a young age she showed such passion that alone has kept her going through the years.”

Marielle Christofi went on to add that she believed in her sister all along due to her passion for dance.

“You know when someone is so passionate about something they can tell you what they want to do and no matter how crazy it may sound, you just believe them because they are so passionate about it," Marielle Christofi said. “This is always how it was with Alicia and dancing and no matter what she said she was going to do, you trusted it simply because she wouldn’t give up on it. It started with The Boston Conservatory, Alicia moving to New York City to dance and then moving to Ireland with her fiancé to start her dance career and it all happened.”

Marielle Christofi admits that her sister puts everything she has into dancing as well as raising her four year-old son Henry.

“Teaching or taking a dance class can be a lot more work than it seems,” Marielle Christofi said. “Transportation may take as long as the class itself and with all that said, each week Alicia manages to teach eight classes and take three herself.”

Work-Life Balance

Marielle Christofi went on to add that before she became a mother, dancing probably filled 90 percent of her thoughts and actions.

“These days, her time is happily split as she cares for her Henry,” Marielle Christofi said. “At night while Henry is sleeping, she often will be on the computer writing grant applications or funding proposals for her future works.”

Marielle could not stop praising her older sister with all of her hard work and ability to follow through with her dream of having a career in dancing.

“Above her talent, perseverance has allowed Alicia to be a successful dancer. Can you imagine moving to a farm in Ireland and just picking up your dance career where you left it in New York City? I mean it is amazing,” Marielle Christofi said. “I can’t imagine the real work she’s had to do with all the late nights and early mornings, all the doubts and mistakes, only perseverance can get you through that.”

“Alicia’s success as a dancer is simply a natural result of hard work and determination and if you have ever seen her dance then you have felt that hard work and determination through every step of her performance,” Marielle Christofi said. “She is not the one to just stop dancing either, even as her life has changed through the years, dancing has remained a constant. It is a part of who she is.”