Artistic Director
R Faux Pas Davidson has been described by critics as "a sturdy, joyful dancer, almost a Puck-like sense of mischief,"-Houston Chronicle. R is a former member of the Seán Curran Company (NY), and has studied on scholarship at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet as well as Gus Giordano's Jazz Dance Center/Chicago. Of the Esther Williams of Post-Modern Dance (translation: Butoh & Burlesque had a baby!) The NY Times said "whether it was the perky black tutu or nipple rings, Davidson's plumage apparently did the trick." Major performance credits include the International Jazz Dance World Congress, the London Tour of the Musical Drama "TEXAS," and the New York Engagement of Ballet Preljocaj's "Paysage apres la bataille." Faux Pas received an M.F.A. in Dance from Sam Houston State University, comprehensive Pilates certification from PeakPilates®, is a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner, and is loved by children and cats.
Artistic Statement
The review read “Mr. Davidson leapt and branded a sword with believable energy, but being short, stout and balding, he seemed ill cast as a prince.”
Does that mean I’m a modern dancer? An artist? I need a wig? What a drag...
And the baby of Butoh & Burlesque was born!
I fell in love with dance in college. I remember watching these beautiful, quirky creatures and knowing that was my tribe...
Once I realized I was not born to be the next Baryshnikov, I was crushed. Nothing to do but lose myself in German Expressionism and the dance stylings of Kurt Joss, followed by some good old fashioned American Masochism courtesy of Mother Martha Graham. My journey has been one of great fortune with influences from Luigi and Giordano, Pilates and Yoga, Butoh and Tanztheatre, to the generous inspiration of children at play and the great conspiracy of house cats...
My hope is a re-imagining of what dance has the potential to be through openness to diverse influences in order to create work which serves as poetic activism for issues such as self acceptance, social equality, and sexuality and gender dysphoria. I believe that technical and artistic ideals can be a beautiful springboard for exploring each individual’s unique gifts to enable them to be creative, confident and responsible contributors to our world.
My goal is to utilize the technique class, the creative process, the performance experience, and intellectual and social awareness as a vehicle that may enable a bold and sensitive vision of relevance and sense of purpose. The American dance artist must command a foundation and understanding of tradition, while gaining the tools to be empowered as the next generation of truly innovative dance ambassadors. In this respect, each individual may be better prepared as they continue on their journey to find a tangible expression of who they are.
The daily task and opening night are of equal importance on my personal journey to shape a dance which speaks to the audience in a universal way. Thus far my best contact improv occured at rush hour on the subway...