Five College Dance Department : Mike Vargas

Mike Vargas

Mike Vargas began playing music in 1959. His curiosity has led him through many contexts, from cocktail lounges in Indonesia to underground clubs in New York, from the Kennedy Center to cancer wards, from Grimm's fairy tales to Playback Theater. Vargas has specialized in improvisation and music for dance since 1978. In addition to his ongoing pure music work, he has composed well over 100 commissioned dance scores. He has also worked extensively as an accompanist, playing with many styles of dance. His music has been heard across the US, in Europe, Mexico, Australia and Brazil. He has taught people of all ages about music and improvisation since 1985. During the last 8 years, Vargas has worked closely with Nancy Stark Smith, teaching and performing in workshops and festivals. In 2003 he published an article on composition in Contact Quarterly. He has released six CD's of his music.

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	Mike Vargas Mike Vargas began playing music in 1959. His curiosity has led him through many contexts, from cocktail lounges in Indonesia to underground clubs in New York, from the Kennedy Center to cancer wards, from Grimm's fairy tales to Playback Theater. Vargas has specialized in improvisation and music for dance since 1978. In addition to his ongoing pure music work, he has composed well over 100 commissioned dance scores. He has also worked extensively as an accompanist, playing with many styles of dance. His music has been heard across the US, in Europe, Mexico, Australia and Brazil. He has taught people of all ages about music and improvisation since 1985. During the last 8 years, Vargas has worked closely with Nancy Stark Smith, teaching and performing in workshops and festivals. In 2003 he published an article on composition in Contact Quarterly. He has released six CD's of his music.