IMANI
TEAGUE
IMANI
TEAGUE
IMANI
TEAGUE
IMANI
TEAGUE
IMANI
TEAGUE
IMANI
PORTALES
TORRES
SOULWORKS
BIOGRAPHY | Imani Portales Torres is a multi-discipline performing artist.
Spending her youth in the foster care system, and unable to train as a child, Imani began her training in Modern Dance during college, where she went on to receive a BFA, while simulatanously studying Pre-Med / Chemistry.
Beginning her professional journey in NYC as a Contemporary Dancer, she has been fortunate to perform with such companies as The Metropolitan Opera, Vissi Dance Theatre, Underground Dance Project, The Lady Dames, Urban Bush Women with The Mozambique National Dance Company as well as ballet performances with Open World Dance Foundation and Laura Alonso Ballet in Havana, Cuba.
She has also performed her own solo choreography in conjunction with The Angel Orensanz Foundation and Baryshnikov Arts Center.
In 2013 Imani began a mentorship in Classical Ballet and has traveled the world for her training and education.
Her first dance film, MUJER NOIRE was selected and shown by Film at Lincoln Center | Dance On Camera Festival in 2021. It was also shown at the Seoul Dance Film Festival in Seoul, Korea that same year.
Imani also has interests in singing, acting, photography, installation, visual arts, writing, and music.
BALLETOMANE | Imani entered a full-blown love affair with Classical Ballet while watching The Nutcracker on a PBS television special at 10 years old.
Unable to access training due to family circumstances, it wouldn't be until many years later when she would finally delve into the training.
Lucking into ABT's Summer Intensive, Imani finally made a full-blown commitment to training in Classical Ballet. Since this decision she has focused in the Vaganova and Cuban traditions and has traveled the world to receive education from renowned coaches and pedagogues.
Entering a mentorship in 2013 with revered pedagogue V. Semenov, she was given full scholarship by Open World Dance Foundation in connection with Baryshnikov Arts in 2016 and 2018 to study Russian Classical Ballet and Vaganova Pedagogy with Ludmila Safronova, Irina Kolpakova and others who were direct pupils of Agrippina Vaganova.
Since 2014 Imani has also been investigating Cuban Classical Ballet pedagogy with yearly trips and lthen, long term residency in Havana, Cuba.
She has been honored to study with the esteemed teachers from the renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba and she made her Classical Ballet with the Corps de Ballet of Laura Alonso's Ballet in 2019.
VISION | The Creative Arts have been at the center of Imani's journey and have enabled her to survive life circumstances that are challenging and often, limiting.
In recognizing the Arts to be crucial to healing and motivation, Imani seeks to engage in work which evokes connection, feeling, transcendence and inspiration.
Imani's passion for Arts as Advocacy means that her work seeks to engage and raise monies towards her FOSTER ARTS initiatives which seek to serve children and adults with histories of familiy displacement in the social service system.
