As Artistic Director and choreographer for 6 Degrees, I create theater, aerial, and contemporary dance works  I am driven by the idea that art holds the ability to shift cultural paradigms. By giving varied perspectives on societal and cultural beliefs through my art, I strive to change society’s belief systems that one set of rules should apply to everyone.  I think these belief systems not only lock us into harmful patterns; they keep us closed to the evolution of ideas and behavior, therefore blocking our full potential.  Children, women, men, humans - we are a diverse species with infinite choices, each specific to ourselves. I believe that true change comes from the individual, and by extension, society and culture.

My creative process is defined by two ideas:  1) My art is embedded with the belief that human understanding, interaction, and tolerance is the purpose of human existence and catalyst for growth, and 2) humor is the best medicine.

My company name, 6 Degrees, and my work reflect the central theme of human connection and relationships as the healing component of human adversity.  Since 1999, I have created and produced eight evening-length concerts and over 20 repertory works on variations of this theme.  My last work, Never Again (2018), was no exception.  For the past five years, I had been troubled by the political process that is systematically stripping women of their basic human rights.  I believed this was possible because there is a general apathy that keeps people from educating themselves on issues and acting on it. Texas Government and religious organizations have systematically blocked women’s right to reproductive healthcare and choice.  I debated on how to best address this issue in a voice that people can hear (I was not interested in doing the Angry Woman Show.) The solution was by style- "Never Again" portrayed the Texas Legislation and Women’s Rights backlash through a vaudevillian lens, with dark humor and wit.  My latest work, "POP DEMO" goes further by investigating how propaganda in politics sways public perspectives on the role of government in our lives.

Join Me.

-Toni Leago Valle