department of dance

data-content-type="article"

Equipped with an eight-foot trampoline, benches, and mattresses, Contemporary Dance Theatre will travel this summer to India to perform The Rhythm of Life. The show explores the rhythm of the world interpreted through dance and music–from the simple rhythm of a heartbeat to the rhythm of the street. The last group traveled to India in 2001. The company will be performing for audiences in Delhi, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, and Goa–to name a few. Members of the company are excited to share the experience of dance with the people in India. “I am most excited to be exposed to a totally new culture,” said group member Kristin Brown. “I can’t wait to dance and share our light with so many amazing people in India. I know I am going to learn so much about myself and be changed for the rest of my life.” One of the dances, “Chakra,” is choreographed by Ivan Pulinkala, originally from New Delhi, India. The dance applies the principles of balance and energy as a metaphor for the human struggle to regain equilibrium in modern society. The word chakra is derived from traditional Indian medicine, which identifies seven energy craters that reside in the human body. The dance requires an eight-foot, wheel-shaped trampoline that rolls across the stage, symbolizing the cycle of life from birth to death. Each of the members of the company has a favorite. For Jeneca Frederiksen that number is “Woman the Pioneer,” a tribute to women of faith and courage everywhere. The dance depicts a woman who has suffered the loss of a child as she travels across the plains with the Mormon pioneers. “The piece shows her grief and sorrow over losing a child and the process of moving forward despite that,” Frederiksen said. “It is a very moving piece, and one that is difficult emotionally to perform and see. But it is by far my favorite.” Although the tour to India is months away, the group practices 12 hours a week. Contemporary dance is a conglomeration of dance genres molded into one. It requires dancers to move their torsos, fly through the air, and communicate through intricate and abstract movements. Logan McGill considers storytelling a key component of contemporary dance. “Contemporary dance is about allowing the audience to become a part of the dancing experience,” McGill said. “It is about the audience and performers giving and taking from each other to create an experience that is fun, emotional, and, most important, unforgettable.” Source: Performing Arts Management

data-content-type="article"

by Ed Blaser In a single summer, Brigham Young University performing groups delivered more than 100 shows and countless workshops to thousands of people worldwide. Each year these groups, from the School of Music and Dance Department, leave Provo to share their love and energy with people around the globe. Living up to the university’s motto, “The world is our campus,” students traveled to nearly every continent, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Chamber Orchestra’s tour of the eastern United States was filled with firsts for many of the student musicians. Not only did they bring their energy and sensational music to more than 7,000 people during their tour, they also learned about the roots of American culture and history. The group traveled to Washington, D.C.; Boston; New York City; and other historically significant cities. They were also afforded the opportunity to perform for a full house at Carnegie Hall, one of the United States’ most famous venues for classical and popular music. Carnegie Hall is known for its beauty, history and acoustics. Playing in the hall built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was a definitely a first for Chamber Orchestra and director Kory Katseanes. During the tour a special outreach performance was arranged at a boys’ home for troubled teens in Rochester, New York. After the remarkable presentation, all who were present experienced feelings of peace, including one prison guard who responded to the show by saying, “This was the most relaxing hour I have had in 20 years!” Living Legends took its production, 'Seasons,' to Chile and delighted more than 18,000 audience members with a captivating storyline and an authentic performance. 'Seasons' incorporated themes from Chile’s own Latin American heritage, as well as the cultural heritage of Native American and Polynesian music and dance. Pablo Penailillo, the single Chilean member of Living Legends, recalled how the audience would stand up and sing along to the cueca, the national dance of Chile, and clap and cheer to la negra, a popular dance that originates in Mexico. Synthesis, the “Big Band” from BYU, was selected to perform at five international jazz festivals in England and Scotland, where visitors found more jazz per square inch than in New Orleans. The group made their way through Birmingham, Marlborough, Wigan, Durham and Edinburgh, and performed ten different times. Everywhere they went, the Synthesis musicians were received enthusiastically. Shows were sold out and others were bursting at the seams. People couldn’t help but tap their feet and nod their heads to the beats that resonated first in their ears and then in the heart., said director Ray Smith. Every measure presented a surprise – a complexity of rhythms and beats strung together in new and innovative ways. Chamber Orchestra, Living Legends and Synthesis originate in the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Meanwhile, the Young Ambassadors went “down under” to various cities on the eastern coast of Australia, as well as Tasmania. Their performance, 'The New American Songbook,' featured popular music from the 1960s through today, with a few Broadway hits mixed in. After a 25-year absence from the country, the Young Ambassadors were pleased to return with the opportunity to perform this show, which even included a few Australian folk songs. A highlight of the tour was the Young Ambassadors’ performance for the legislators in the Queensland State Parliament in Brisbane. The group’s presence was recorded in the minutes of Parliament – a first recognition of its kind for BYU. Mike Reynolds, speaker of Parliament, said afterward that he was impressed with the musical skill of the Ambassadors. Reynolds commented that in a time when academic institutions “have eliminated the academic music programs, BYU has chosen to showcase this important medium.” The Young Ambassadors are produced by the School of Music in cooperation with the Department of Dance. The International Folk Dance Ensemble was privileged to take its dancing to Central Europe and share the stage with some of the continent’s finest performing folk ensembles. The performance was a celebration of cultures. Ed Austin, artistic director, said, “The production is steeped in tradition – a patchwork of mankind’s finest expression– an attempt to preserve fragments of diversity that might otherwise be forgotten.” The U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, April Foley, called the production a “triumph” and extended her appreciation for the “tireless, young ensemble that showcased the cultural heritage of the United States.” Ambassador Foley also presented the group with the Ambassador’s Award for Cultural Diplomacy, which recognizes those who “display exceptional talent and exceptional service to the goal of friendship between America and Hungary.” A special occasion was afforded to the Ballroom Dance Company, which had the opportunity of performing at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Cultural Festival in The People's Republic of China. This event highlighted the diversity and spirit in the arts from around the globe. The occasion to take part in the Olympic festivities was a bright complement to BYU. Tour coordinator Rex Barrington explained, “The opportunity was granted largely because of the impressive reputation BYU performers have established in China over the years.” In the three weeks of their tour they also performed in Hong Kong and eight other cities throughout China, five of which would later host Olympic sporting events. A strong relationship with the Chinese Performing Arts Agency led to a full taping of their performance, with an estimated 480 million people watching on China Central Television this summer. During the tour, dancers were also able to share feelings of peace and comfort after the country experienced a devastating earthquake in central China, which took almost 70,000 lives. Brad Peterson said, “They received us wholeheartedly – their eyes were full of light and appreciation.” The International Folk Dance Ensemble and Ballroom Dance Company both originate in the Department of Dance of the College of Health and Human Performance. Performing Arts Management represents the touring ensembles that originate from the School of Music and the Department of Dance. Source: BYU News

data-content-type="article"

by Marissa Ballantyne Brigham Young University’s Theatre Ballet will perform two works to honor master choreographer Antony Tudor in a diverse program that celebrates love on all its levels Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 21-23. The nightly performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre, and a matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the BYU Fine Arts Ticket Office or by calling (801) 422-4322. The performance will begin with the Spanish flair of the classical “Paquita,” featuring principal dancers Jenny Macdonald and Roman Avramenko, then continue with classical and contemporary works that reflect the types of love as described by C.S. Lewis in his book, “The Four Loves.” Antony Tudor’s “Little Improvisations” represents “affection”; his “Continuo” and guest choreographer Wilson Domingues’ “Solsticio” reflect “romantic love”; Theatre Ballet Company director Shani Robison’s “Adagio” illuminates the love found in “friendship”; and the premiere performance of Robison’s “Dances to Life,” choreographed to music by Mack Wilberg, defines “charity.” This year, Theatre Ballet will perform two works by Antony Tudor, one of the master ballet choreographers of the past century, said promotion director Lynne Thompson. The company is one of a few select groups performing Tudor’s works in honor of the centennial year of his birth. “The company received a BYU Fulton Grant to host Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, former principal dancers with American Ballet Theatre, to mentor the students in this rare opportunity to celebrate Tudor’s life and choreographic genius,” said Thompson. “Having danced Tudor’s works under his personal direction, they now represent the Tudor Trust and take his works to professional companies throughout the world.” “The reason why you do this is to enhance the good spirit of the world, and you really feel it here, a lot,” Gardner said of working with BYU Theatre Ballet.“Their work is solid and great, but more than that, it’s the spirit here and that’s rare.” For more information, contact Lynne Thompson at (801) 225-1775. Source: BYU News

data-content-type="article"

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Fine Arts and Entertainment Calendar January 2004 All month: 'On the Road with C.C.A. Christensen: The Moving Panorama' at the BYU Museum of Art. Carl Christian Anton (C.C.A.) Christensen, a Danish immigrant who worked and lived in Utah, was one of several Utah artists to use this popular art form. Christensen produced four panoramas, two of which are being exhibited in the Museum of Art. The exhibition presents two large moving panoramas. Accompanying the exhibition is a re-enactment of the 19th-century performance given by Christensen when he traveled his panorama to localities throughout Utah and Idaho. The 40-minute panorama performance will be presented every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. and every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is free and the public is welcome to attend. '150 Years of American Painting' at the BYU Museum of Art is a permanent installation of paintings by renowned artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Maynard Dixon, John Singer Sargent, and many local Utah favorites such as Mahonri Young. Admission is free. 'Outside Inside: Fragments of Place' continues on display at the BYU Museum of Art. This ambiguous exhibition title refers to a project in which seven Australian artists were commissioned to examine the extended community that has gathered along the Wasatch Front. These artists were selected for their ability to sensitively analyze cultures, social behaviors, geographic spaces and historical foundations, and manifest their research in thought-provoking ways. 'Outside Inside' is on display through April 27, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. 'Contemporary Spaces, Underlying Culture' remains on display at the BYU Museum of Art. The exhibition brings together five artists who use photography as a means of exploring ideas related to a sense of place, cultural identity, human interaction and the nature of artistic expression in contemporary life. 'Contemporary Spaces' is on display through Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 8 The Utah Symphony Orchestra will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance will feature Britten's 'Sinfonia a Requiem,' Vaughn Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; and Dvorak's Concerto for orchestra and cello in B Minor, op. 104. The concert will be conducted by Keith Lockhart and will feature Shauna Rolston, cello. Tickets at $20 and $4 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Jan. 16 BYU's Living Legends, a celebration of Native American, Polynesian and Latin American music and dance will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $10 and $2 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Intercollegiate Band, the finest musicians from Utah's colleges and universities, will perform under the direction of guest conductor Jerry Junkin from the University of Texas at Austin beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Amadeus Trio, one of the most dynamic chamber music groups performing today, including Timothy Baker, violin, Jeffrey Solow, cello, and Marian Hahn, piano, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. A free master class will be offered Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Tickets for the concert at $9 with $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Amadeus Trio visit www.amadeustrio.com. Tuesday, Jan. 20 Dallas Brass, directed by Michael Levine, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a performance tour that includes BYU. Dallas Brass is recognized as one of America's foremost musical ensembles. A unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges that the entire family will enjoy. Featuring Jason Ayoub, horn; Brian Neal, trumpet; Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Michael Levine, trombone; Deanna Swoboda, tuba; and Daniel Hostetler, percussion. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $9 and $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Dallas Brass visit www.dallasbrass.com. Wednesday, Jan. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 7 Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, directed and choreographed by Pat Debenham, with music direction by Randy Boothe will be presented at the Pardoe Theatre. You'll have reason to celebrate the heyday of rock 'n' roll when you are at Smokey Joe's Café, where the American pop that defined an era is transposed into exciting musical theatre. When you hear 40 favorites like 'Hound Dog,' 'Love Potion No. 9,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me' and 'Yakety Yak.' You won't just be strollin' down memory lane, you'll be dancin' in the aisles. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Previews are Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22. A matinee performance will be given Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. There will be no performances Sundays or Mondays. Tickets are $14 and $4 off with BYU or student ID. Tickets for previews and matinee performances are $5. Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 28 The Q'd Up Faculty Jazz Quintet, features Ray Smith, reeds; Ron Brough, percussion; Steve Lindeman, keyboards; Jay Lawrence, vibes; and Matt Larson, bass. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Jan. 31 The Dancer's Company will appear in concert, with artistic direction by Rebecca Wright Phillips. 'Song of Deliverance,' dedicated to LDS pioneer heritage, is a tribute to the past, along with a beautiful piece by Bill Evans, 'For Betty,' to music by Antonio Vivaldi. 'April,' choreographed by guest artist Nana Shineflug of the Chicago Moving Company, is structurally based on the bell curve. 'Wheelenese Waltz,' a Viennese waltz like you've never seen before, is sure to bring a laugh, and the dancers' own choreographic premiere will bring us up to date as dancers use stunt stilts to leap, jump, and flip into the 21st century. Performances are in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. All tickets at $5 are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hfac. Thursday, Jan. 29 The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series presents 'Angels with Dirty Faces' at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium. The mannerisms that made James Cagney famous (and earned him an Academy Award nomination) were established in this exciting crime drama that features the Dead End Kids, later known as the Bowery Boys. The final scene is a movie milestone. Directed by Michael Curtiz with movement and flair, it co-stars Pat O'Brian, Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Early arrival is recommended as seating is limited. Children ages 8 and over are welcome. Saturday, Jan. 31 The American Piano Duo featuring Jeffrey Shumway and Del Parkinson will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Source: BYU News

data-content-type="article"

Santa Claus got a little extra help spreading Christmas cheer in Alaska in November from Brigham Young University's cultural dance group Living Legends. Instead of traveling via reindeer and a red sleigh, Alaska's Air National Guard flew the Native American section of Living Legends in a National Guard C-130 to St. Michael and Wales, two small villages on the Bering Sea that rub shoulders with the Siberian Coast. This special partnership was formed as part of Operation Santa Claus, a 47-year tradition in which National Guard troops deliver toys, food and school supplies to rural villages in Alaska. This year, members of Living Legends, a performing group specializing in cultural and ethnic dances, accompanied them, giving a performance in each of the community's schools and interacting with children there. Performances highlighted ceremonial dances of Native North Americans including Eagle, which embodies the sacred bird that flies highest and nearest to the Creator and its courage, strength and wisdom, and Butterfly, reminding all people to live a life strengthened by beauty. Community members appreciated the moving performances, said Ed Blaser, director of BYU Performing Arts Management. Perhaps most touching was the dancers' ability to identify and connect with the Native Alaskans. 'The dancers were sincere in their intent to share their cultures and learn about the culture of the Native Alaskans,' said Blaser, who accompanied the group. 'The other volunteers we traveled with were amazed at how quickly our students related with the Native Alaskan people. The dancers' sincerity showed.' This sincerity was a result of genuine interest in learning about the cultures of Native Alaskans and Native Americans. Members of this section of Living Legends, who are descendants of Native Americans themselves, often feel personal connections with their audiences. Preparations for the Alaska tour began long before members packed their bags. Not only did they schedule hours of rehearsal, but the students also researched and studied the peoples they would be visiting. Cultural handbooks, produced for students before each tour, give background on the countries they will visit, the customs they will encounter and the people they will interact with. The reading helps students acquaint themselves with and understand the lifestyles of the Yup'ik and Inquiat tribes, said Blaser. The tour actually began in Anchorage with an outreach activity in an area high school. Bartlett High School hosted Living Legends for a performance and discussion about smart life choices. 'Our students often become role models for the kids they visit,' said Blaser. 'They take pride in who they are and their heritage.' An outreach activity planned for the Native Student Services Center at the University of Alaska became a time of cultural sharing and understanding. At the university, Living Legends dancers first performed for the gathered crowd of students and faculty. Then, members of the audience, including a young man who danced professionally, showed the visiting performers dance steps and played folk music native to Alaska. Veteran's Day fell on the Tuesday after Living Legends arrived in Anchorage offering two unique performance and community outreach opportunities. Framed by the stars and stripes of an immense American flag, the dancers performed 'Go My Son,' at the National Guard Armory to honor Alaska's war veterans, and then had the audience join in singing 'God Bless America.' Here, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski accompanied by Lt. Gov. Loren Leman and military brass, watched the performance. 'Everyone there recognized we were part of a monumental, emotional experience,' said Janielle Christensen, artistic director of Living Legends. Later that same day, Living Legends performed for the Alaska Military Youth Academy offering a message of cultural diversity and smart living. After the show, audience members mingled with the cast, shaking hands and discussing the performance. 'We try to portray a message to young people that we not only take great pride in our heritage, culture and traditions,' said Christensen, 'but we also show them the importance for every person to get an education and lift themselves so they can reach out and lift others as well.' Throughout the tour there was a transcendent sense of charity, understanding and human connection. 'We didn't want to leave,' said Blaser. 'We met people who live simple lives and are completely happy.' 'These are people for whom daily life is full of tradition,' said Christensen. 'To see other Native American people who cherish their own traditions was something I think they really enjoyed. They were moved by it and they learned from it.' The tour, though brief, touched the lives of everyone involved. 'Every young BYU Native American I took realized what a precious experience it was,' said Christensen. 'Not one of them took it for granted. It was one of those wonderful experiences where young people really tuned into what was happening and had a great sense of respect and gratitude for the experience.' Source: BYU News

data-content-type="article"