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SJR State Press Release
April 2012
Florida School of the Arts presents its Spring Dance Gala
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Florida School of the Arts will present its annual "Spring Dance Gala," a colorful and creative experience in ballet, jazz and modern dance featuring original choreography by faculty and innovative creations from the costume and stage design programs. The Gala will be performed on the Main Stage April 19 - 21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the St. Johns River State College Palatka campus. Admission is $5.
The Gala will open with variations from four classical ballets, "Don Quixote," "Pas de Quatre," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Giselle," under the direction of dance instructor Lee Dando. Dando is also introducing an original choreography called "Broga Shona," featuring music by David Arkenstone. Dando said the title is Irish for "happy shoes" and is a fun, nonsensical ballet. "The music is Celtic and very lively," Dando said. "There are a lot of petit allegro and big jumps in the piece."
Dance instructor Freddick Bratcher will introduce two new pieces this year. Bratcher's first piece is called "Melting Point," featuring music by Janis Joplin. "It's all about the voice and the soul of the legendary singer and how her music dealt with heartache and loneliness," Bratcher said, adding that props will also be used during the performance to further express the tone of the three songs featured in the piece.
Bratcher describes his second choreography, "Figurative Musing," as a highly interpretative and abstract piece that exhibits an artistic point of view on spirituality and a reflection of the Old Testament and the origins of creation. It will be performed to "Carmina Burana" by composer Carl Orff.
Instructor Jenne Vermes has choreographed a tap piece titled "Colorblind," with music by Natalie Walker. Vermes' piece suggests that if society removed its blindfolds, then people would see that everyone is dealing with the same struggles, the same trials and tribulations. "So often we walk through life concerned with ourselves and our own small corners of the world, blind to everything that is happening outside of what we know as our lives," Vermes said. "Imagine walking through the streets of New York City. You pass hundreds or thousands of people in a single day there, but do you ever really look at them? Do you know what they're going through? Our own lives are not untouched by others; it just so often goes entirely unnoticed."
Joining the Gala as a guest choreographer is Thom Lake of Lake Mary. Lake's career includes performing with the National Ballet of Mexico and National Ballet Theater of Puerto Rico. Lake has created an original piece entitled "Bahmuda Triangle," featuring music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lady Gaga and The Turtles.
Students performing in the Gala are: Victoria Akin, Gregg Baker, Talia Byerly, Bryce Byrd, Grace Deasy, Melissa Labios, Cloe Leppard, Kaley Marshall, Chelsea Neiber, Lekeisha Robinson, Monica Rush, Maria Wasilko, Nicole Willis, Julianna Wolf and Megan Wolf.
The production crew includes Brooke Thurnau, stage manager; Marina Alcover and Sami Gresham, assistant stage managers.
The Costume construction crew includes Emily Strickland, costume design and Pamela Ross, costume shop manager.
Construction crew includes Robert W. O'Leary, scenic design; Bryan Sellers, lighting design; Doug Brown, design department technical director; Adam Campitelli, light board operator; and Andrew Crews, sound board operator.
Carpenters, painters and stage electricians include Chelsea Bodden, Cheyenne DeBarros, Stephanie Garcia, George Hawkins, Joshua Holt, Stephan Pineda, Marina Alcover, Jesse Bethke, Adam Campitelli, Jason Cazella, Blu Cook, Tim Lewarne, Laura Scott, Amber Douglas, Bryan Sellers, Shirley Sullivan, Brooke Thurnau and Michael Ross.
Stage hands and running crew includes Marina Alcover, Jesse Bethke, Jason Cazella, Sami Gresham, Michael Ross and Laura Scott.
Florida School of the Arts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards the two-year associate degree. The School serves the entire state of Florida and is located on the SJR State Palatka campus. For more information, call 386-312-4300 or visit the Web site at www.floarts.org.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Dance majors at Florida School of the Arts will present the annual Spring Dance Gala, a colorful and creative experience in ballet, jazz and modern dance featuring original choreography by faculty April 19 - 22.
Melissa Labios is photographed with fellow dance students rehearsing for the Florida School of the Arts annual Spring Dance Gala April 19 - 22.
Chelsea Neiber is photographed with fellow dance students rehearsing for the Florida School of the Arts dance annual Spring Dance Gala April 19 - 22.
Return to SJR State home page.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
SJR State Director of Public Relations and Publications
5001 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4020
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