Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cynthia Giannini. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cynthia , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose is more defined by my desires.
I have always desired to be of service inspired by love and compassion for the miracle of life itself. I create that which can support continued growth and education through artistic expression.
As my life followed it’s obvious path, I was able create within the company I worked for, the family I built, the community I lived and raised my children in and now the life I have chosen to devote myself to.
My purpose is to create a venue to support arts and wellness and provide a culturally diverse community engaged in sustainable activities and cooperative experiences.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Currently my focus is aimed on aquiring our current home, we call the Sanctuary, where we can operate most of our business, minding the neighborhood, in all of our activities.
We have three resident professionals with a singular vision of sharing excellence in our creative ways of bringing the arts and wellness together through dance, music, classes, performances, yoga, and more.
We have received our 501(c) (3) status as of this month and have our first draft business plan, operational budgets and grant applications in order. I have devoted my time, and my spirit into the strong belief that our offerings are supporting our community in the highest of intentions.
We are operating Intimo Tango, the first International tango school in Denver with an incredible teacher and dancer, Dominic Bridge, paving a new way in our city for the growth of this beautiful connective dance culture.
We have an exciting coming out event this December 2024 at the Ellie Caulkins Studio loft where we will present our preview and concept tango show, Sol y Luna, the weekend after Christmas.
Tickets are already available online through AXS. Our nonprofit company “Artists Amongst Us” received an ARPA grant for the hardcosts of our upcoming shows and tango festival. We are most grateful for this opportunity to host and create our vision and see it come to life.
We have assembled a team of highly developed artists in Sculpture (Ira Sherman), Storytelling (Noa Shapira), Lighting design (Byron Swezy) and Original music composition,(Eraldo Bernocchi) and along w/my dance and Tango choreography, we recently premiered “Shadows of Hope”. A global call to rape awareness and prevention. The event was supported by The Blue Bench foundation. We would like to share this production with a larger audience and build awareness nationally and globally.
You can learn more about our nonprofit company, Artists Amongst Us, on our website.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My three best qualities come from
Devotion,
I have danced for the majority of my life and was devoted to my professional career with the Joffrey ballet and then later, to my students who I helped train into their own careers. Finding Argentine Tango has taken me further into my love of dance and has been a major gift in my creative life.
Grit,
Never giving up and believing what I could imagine and what I could realistically see as a possibility, supported my focus and hard work. I enjoy the process because I can see my progress.
Belief in me, myself, and I
I often joke about the three of me.
Me the 5 year old child with an unconditional love of the world and all its secrets.
Myself,
The adult, student, daughter, professional, mother, teacher, host of community, performer, who wants the best for my friends, my family and those around me.
And I,
The one, between the ages, who has always known who I am and what I want to do.
My advice for anyone embarking on their journey is to bring good people and good food and share. Listen, be specific and open to possibilities. Set intentions for the highest good of all involved. Breath, move/dance, love deeply and try your best.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Patience is my biggest challenge.
We are digging in to so many aspects of these growing projects and I can see the potential and the value of our offerings. It’s challenging to be patient as many things are coming together quickly and our time in our current work space is running out.
I am waiting to hear back from city zoning and permiting to see if we can change our residential work permit into a variance that divides the Sancutuary from the current house so we can have a seperate business entity and run our events to full capacity. Our lease is up at the end of September and we would like to purchase the property and manage our business here.
We have written and applied for a number of grants to support our artists and our work. Currently, I am investing in the beginning phases and am ready to get some financial support so we can take a breath and keep on.
I’d like to hire the management I need so we can build our dreams. I remain hopeful and continue to take one step at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: artistsamongstus.org/intimotango.com
- Instagram: artistsamongstusdenver/intimoargentinetango
- Facebook: Artists Amongst Us/ Intimo Tango
Image Credits
Carolina M Joyce Byron Swezy
