Photo: Leon Alesi
Heloise Gold lives in Austin, Texas. She is a performing artist, choreographer, dancer, comedian, T’ai Chi/Qi Gong instructor and co-founding director of Art From the Streets, a project for homeless artists.
Originally from New York City, Heloise trained in ballet, performing as a young teen with the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballets during their early visits to the US (1962-64). In her early 20’s her interests shifted to experimental forms. She performed in Robert Wilson’s legendary twelve hour opera The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin (1973); studied and performed with Simone Forti (dance) and was a member of Quena Company (an Open Theatre ensemble).
Originally from New York City, Heloise trained in ballet, performing as a young teen with the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballets during their early visits to the US (1962-64). In her early 20’s her interests shifted to experimental forms. She performed in Robert Wilson’s legendary twelve hour opera The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin (1973); studied and performed with Simone Forti (dance) and was a member of Quena Company (an Open Theatre ensemble).
Photo: Rino Pizzi
She moved to Austin in 1978 and danced and toured with the Deborah Hay Dance Company from 1980 to 1985. In 1980 she began creating original full length works. Heloise was a key player in the experimental work spawned in Austin in the 1980s, and continues to create new work with many Austin artists. She co-leads Deep Listening Retreats with New Music pioneer/composer Pauline Oliveros and author Ione in the US and Europe and also runs week-long T’ai Chi Retreats annually in New Mexico. Her book Deeply Listening Body was published in 2008.
As a choreographer/performance artist, Heloise has been the recipient of numerous grants from the City of Austin and Texas Commission for the Arts, and a New Forms Initiative from the NEA. She has been a sponsored artist of Women & Their Work, a visual and performing arts organization in Austin; at Diverse Works, Houston; at Jumpstart, San Antonio; and The Deep Listening Institute in New York.
As a choreographer/performance artist, Heloise has been the recipient of numerous grants from the City of Austin and Texas Commission for the Arts, and a New Forms Initiative from the NEA. She has been a sponsored artist of Women & Their Work, a visual and performing arts organization in Austin; at Diverse Works, Houston; at Jumpstart, San Antonio; and The Deep Listening Institute in New York.
Her work has been presented by Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors Festival; International Society For Improvised Music in Chicago; Deep Listening Institute, NY; SITE, Santa Fe New Mexico; Ears Eyes + Feet at the University of Texas Austin; Quiet Music Ensemble, University of Cork, Ireland; and Fusebox Festival, Austin Texas.
Popular works performed in Austin include the Watching from the She Palace series (1984-86); Maggs: The 10,000 Year Old Woman (1988-89); Bird Dream Dances and Songs (1982-present); Divine Lunacy (1993-94); Hot Flash, A Comic coming of Age Tragedy (1998); The Great Disappearing Act (2007) nominated for a B. Iden Payne award; and Gold Show/Rose Show 2013 nominated for 3 Austin Critics Table Awards and awarded "Best Short Dance Work" for 'Resonance'.
Popular works performed in Austin include the Watching from the She Palace series (1984-86); Maggs: The 10,000 Year Old Woman (1988-89); Bird Dream Dances and Songs (1982-present); Divine Lunacy (1993-94); Hot Flash, A Comic coming of Age Tragedy (1998); The Great Disappearing Act (2007) nominated for a B. Iden Payne award; and Gold Show/Rose Show 2013 nominated for 3 Austin Critics Table Awards and awarded "Best Short Dance Work" for 'Resonance'.
In addition to performing, Heloise has taught T’ai Chi for over thirty years. Heloise has served on the faculty of The Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin (AOMA), and Omega At The Crossings in Austin, and teaches private and group T’ai Chi/Qi Gong classes at her movement/arts studio, as well as retreats at Rose Mountain Retreat Center, New Mexico. Her students have included young people, elderly, business executives, jail inmates, artists, professionals and people from all walks of life.
Heloise co-founded Art From the Streets in 1990. She continues to be a dedicated player in the project, as volunteer co-ordinator for the annual AFTS art show; and a volunteer in the art studio.
Heloise co-founded Art From the Streets in 1990. She continues to be a dedicated player in the project, as volunteer co-ordinator for the annual AFTS art show; and a volunteer in the art studio.