Sara Procopio Artist-in-Residence November 12-16, 2012

PM Dancers with Sara Procopio

AM Dancers with Sara Procopio

Sara Procopio, who is a native of Syracuse, New York, was in residence at the Fine Arts Center setting a new work and teaching master classes from November 12-16, 2012.  Her new work “From Here to the Sky” was performed in the Winter Honors Showcase in December and will be performed in the Fine Arts Center Dance Concert on April 26^th. She also talked with the students about college dance programs and careers in dance during an informal lunch gathering at the Fine Arts Center giving students an opportunity to ask questions about a future in dance.

Ms. Procopio is a founding member and former Artistic Associate of Shen Wei Dance Arts.  For twelve years, her work with Shen Wei has included performing and teaching at renowned venues and festivals throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.  Sara recently worked with choreographer Jonah Bokaer on a project in collaboration with Robert Wilson.  As an independent teaching artist, as well as for Shen Wei Dance Arts, Sara regularly teaches master classes and workshops worldwide.  Recent engagements include the American Dance Festival (ADF), the ADF/NY January Intensive, Peridance Capezio Center, Marymount Manhattan College, The University of the Arts, Hollins University, and in Italy at the Paolo Grassi School of Milan and the Fabbrica Europa Festival in Florence. This past summer she led the Shen Wei Performance Project and taught in the 3-Week School at the American Dance Festival.  Later in the summer, Sara traveled to teach in Seoul, South Korea. 

 In addition to performing and teaching, Sara curates and produces multi-disciplinary arts events as part of the presenting team at Progressive Arts Network (PAN).  Sara is a graduate of Hollins University where she earned both her undergraduate and master's degrees.

Tim Glenn is Guest Artist October 21 through October 27, 2012

Jan Woodward received an “Innovative Art Special Project Grant” from the State Department of Education to bring Tim Glenn to the Fine Arts Center for a dance residency. "Tim Glenn is Associate Professor in the School of Dance at Florida State University where he teaches courses in dance technology including dance video and projection design, as well as offers modern dance technique and repertory courses primarily influenced by the Nikolais/Louis philosophy and method of performance. His primary interests in dance technology include digital media, videodance, telematics, and multimedia theater… He has worked as videographer for the Paul Taylor Dance Company's Repertory Preservation Project since 2003 and has documented 27 masterworks by Taylor.” “Glenn is a former member of the Nikolais & Murray Louis Dance Company, the Melrose Motion Company, and is the Artistic Director of Performance Tech - Tim Glenn and Company. Influenced by his mentor, Alwin Nikolais, Glenn enjoys “total theater” design, including costume design and construction. Choreographing since 1987, Glenn’s repertoire has been performed internationally in The Netherlands, Japan, as well as in numerous national venues.” The dance

photo is of Doven Souls one of his recent choreographic works. Photo credit: Jon Nalon. For more information: http://www.timglenn.us/TimGlenn/Doven_Souls.html

Andrew Kuharsky created a new ballet on dancers in the morning class early in October set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven. Mr. Kuharsky is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School and was an apprentice with the Joffrey Ballet in New York, a principal dancer with The Atlanta Ballet, and a soloist with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal. He has performed across Canada, the U.S., and in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.

FAC Dance Alumni teach classes at Greenville Dance Festival!

Fine Arts Center graduates taught classes as guest artists/teachers at the Greenville Dance Festival on October 6th. The event for dancers in the Upstate was held at the Fine Arts Center and Wade Hampton High School. Peter Base, is a graduate of the Fine Arts Center who currently dances as a professional dancer with CBT-Carolina Ballet Theatre (his third season) and danced with the Brevard Ballet, taught a ballet class for boys. Mr. Base trained with the Greenville Ballet and the Fine Arts Center.

Rebecca Lee, is a graduate of the Fine Arts Center who is currently the Director of Dance in the ARMES Dance Program, the after school dance program held at the Fine Arts Center, received her M.F.A. from Florida State University. She has been a company member with Dance Repertory Theatre in Tallahassee, FL, the Power Company in Columbia, SC, a guest artist with Wildwood Ballet, and is currently dancing with the Greenville Ballet.

April Schaeffer is a graduate of the Fine Arts Center and was a member of the Southeast Theatre Dance Company. April has been a teacher for the South Carolina Children’s Theatre since 2006. Since 1998, she has been a principal dancer for the Greenville Little Theatre and has has performed with Centre Stage and the Warehouse Theatre. Her choreography credits include Greenville Little Theatre’s Carousel, Warehouse Theatre’s Screwtape, Cabaret and Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spartanburg Little Theatre’s Peter Pan, Sue Cleveland Player’s The Wizard of Oz, Greer Children’s Theatre’s Scrooge and Honk, South Carolina Children’s Theatre Mulan and Billy, Goat, Gruff. She will also be choreographing the upcoming production of Chicago for the Spartanburg Little Theatre.

Greenville Dance Festival Hosted by FAC

The Fine Arts Center hosted the Greenville Dance Festival, an event that the dance teachers in Greenville County Schools organize for our dance students as well as for dancers in the Upstate. This was our 6th such dance festival, which has proven to be an exciting event for the dancers in the Upstate. There were four sessions of classes with 6 classes in each session being offered. There was also an informal performance at 4:00 in the theatre at Wade Hampton High School, which featured African Dance, Classical Indian Dance and three modern dance companies: The Wanda Project from Charlotte, Annex Dance Company from Charleston and Sapphire Moon Dance Company from Columbia. Guest teachers who taught at the Greenville Dance Festival: Joan Wadopina (Shen Wei Dance Arts), Peter Base from Carolina Ballet Theatre, Janice Batson from Greenville Yoga, Anna Jordan Bax (BFA from NYU), Sivakami Bhavnandnan taught Classical Indian Dance, Brian Carr taught Scottish Dance, Wanda Ebright from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, Melanie Elrod taught hip-hop, Valerie Ifill from Winthrop and Johnson C. Smith University, Toshiko Joerger taught Traditional Japanese Dance, Kristin Kieseler from College of Charleston, Rebecca Lee (MFA from FSU), Krishna Owens taught African Dance, April Schaeffer from Greenville Jazz all of whom are respected dancers and teachers.

Joan Wadopian is Guest Artist at FAC

Joan Wadopian was guest artist at the Fine Arts Center teaching master classes on October 4th and 5th. She was also the special guest artist with the Greenville Dance Festival October 6th. Ms. Wadopian is a graduate from SUNY-Purchase Dance Conservatory and dancer with world renowned Shen Wei Dance Arts for six years. She also performed with Kevin Wynn Collection and as a guest artist with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Pictured is Joan Wadopian and the morning dancers.

FAC Dance & Theatre students travel to Charleston to see Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet

FAC Dance & Theatre students travel to Charleston to see Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet FAC Dancers and Theatre students took a field trip to Spoleto USA to see Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet perform in Charleston on Friday, June 1st.

Pointe magazine says that Cedar Lake is “Arguably the edgiest, coolest ballet company in the country.”

Jacqueline Calle one of two Finalists in the 2012 NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award

Jacqueline Calle is one of two Finalists in the 2012 NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award listed Jacqueline Calle as one of the two Finalists. The results included two Winners, two Finalists and seven Honorable Mentions. The information is posted on an NDEO/NHSDA webpage with links to the videos of the students’ choreography. Last year, Samantha Patterson was also a Finalist with previous FAC Dance students Amanda Porter and Lauren Miller also placing nationally as well. This awards program is for Junior and Senior high school aged students who have been inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Applicants are evaluated based on three categories each representing 300 points out of a 900 point grading rubric. Candidates for the award must excel in all three categories:  Artistic Merit: The candidate must demonstrate technical and artistic excellence in dance as evidenced by performing original choreography and a choreography essay.  Leadership: The candidate must demonstrate outstanding leadership in and outside the field of dance at the school, community, state, and/or national level as evidenced by a strong resume, recommendation letter and leadership essay.  Academic Achievement: The Nominee must demonstrate academic excellence with a high cumulative grade point average and two essays detailing future plans and the impact of dance.

Photo credit: Paul Mehaffey

Photos of In Memoriam choreographed by Andrew Kuharsky

In Memoriam, choreographed by guest artist Andrew Kuharsky was performed in the Fine Arts Center Dance Concert on April 27th.

Dancers perform in Generation to Generation

On May 4th FAC dancers presented 4 dances, choreographed by 4 student choreographers, which were not in the main Dance Concert on April 27th. The Generation to Generation performance is student created/generated work by FAC students in all of the arts disciplines. The four dance works performed were: Sprezzatura--choreographed by Jacqueline Calle and danced by Elizabeth Byouk, Mireille Fehler, Lael King; The Quiet Piece--choreographed and danced by Kayla Sameski; Idolizing Individuals—choreographed by Lauren Pittman and danced by Elizabeth Byouk, Jacqueline Calle, Mireille Fehler, Samantha Patterson, Hannah Winton; and Remnants—choreographed by Samantha Patterson and danced by Elizabeth Byouk, Mireille Fehler, Lael King, Coryn Owens, Lauren Pittman, Kayla Sameski, Kaitlyn Schultz, and Hannah Winton. The photos are of rehearsals in the black box theatre for the Generation to Generation performance.

NHSDA Final Induction Ceremony on May 16th

The final Induction Ceremony for NHSDA (National Honor Society for Dance Arts )was held on May 16th for new members: Caitlin Drummond, Kara Nightingale, Kayla Sameski and Georgia Seay. Students must earn 30 points to be eligible for membership and then may qualify for the next level by earning 10 more points up to the fifth level. Jacqueline Calle received fourth level, Mattison Williams second level, Briana Hunter first level and Kaitlyn Schultz first level. Pictured: 2nd row: Lauren Pittman (Treasurer), Rhiannon Laymon (Secretary), Caitlin Drummond, Georgia Seay, Kayla Sameski and Kara Nightingale. Front row: Coryn Owens (Vice-President), Jacqueline Calle and Mattison Williams.

New members inducted into the FAC Chapter of the NHSDA

Dancers Briana Hunter, Kendall Roberson, Kaitlyn Schultz and Carley Tomlinson were inducted into the Fine Arts Center chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts on April 27th.

Rehearsals on stage for FAC Dance Concert on April 27th

Photos are of rehearsals with dress rehearsal tonight-April 26th, and our Fine Arts Center Concert on Friday, April 27th in the Wade Hampton High School theatre. Curtain is at 7:00 pm. Choreography will be performed by guest choreographers who have set works or restaged dances on the FAC dancers. The theatre tech crew, under the direction of Dirk Holleman, have transformed the stage into a space for dance bringing the portable floor, lighting and sound equipment from the Fine Arts Center.

The Fine Arts Center Dance Concert will be performed April 27th at 7:00 pm in the theatre at Wade Hampton High School, the building adjacent to the Fine Arts Center. The repertory will include choreography by Brian McGinnis (Julliard graduate and professional dancer with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company based in NYC), Gerri Houlihan (Professor of Dance at Florida State University and Co-Dean of the American Dance Festival at Duke University), Joan Wadopian (professional dancer with Shen Wei Dance Arts based in NYC), Andrew Kuharsky (Director of the Greenville Ballet) and Rebecca Lee (MFA from Florida State University and alumna from the Fine Arts Center).

Sara Procopio was a guest artist at the Fine Arts Center from March 5-8. Her biography is below:
Sara Procopio is a Brooklyn based dance artist, teacher and arts administrator. She is a founding and current member of Shen Wei Dance Arts, as well as the company's Artistic Associate.
Sara began her dance training at the Center of Ballet & Dance Arts in Syracuse, NY, and studied extensively at the American Dance Festival, and at Hollins University where she earned both her undergraduate and master's degrees.
Since moving to New York in 2001, Sara has performed with Shen Wei Dance Arts at some of the most renowned festivals and venues in the world. In addition to repeated engagements at the American Dance Festival, Lincoln Center Festival, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Venice Biennale, Spoleto Festival and Jacob's Pillow, she has appeared with Shen Wei Dance Arts at the Dorothy Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center; Zellerbach Hall/CalPerformances, Berkeley, CA; Sadler's Wells and the Barbican in London; the Israel Festival/Jerusalem; the Het Muziektheater/Amsterdam; the Sydney Festival; the Esplanade/Singapore; Movimentos Festival/Germany; Montpellier Festival/France; Melbourne International Arts Festival/Australia; the Hong Kong New Vision Festival; Palacio de Bellas Artes/Mexico City; and most recently on television in China via the Hunan Broadcasting System.
Sara teaches classes and workshops regularly throughout the U.S. and abroad as an independent teaching artist, and also for Shen Wei Dance Arts. Recent U.S. teaching engagements include Hollins University, Peridance Capezio Center, American Dance Festival, Marymount Manhattan College, The University of the Arts, P.S. 5, Park Avenue Armory, Dance New Amsterdam, and in Italy at the Paolo Grassi School of Milan.

Sara Procopio was visiting dance artist teaching master classes at the Fine Arts Center for four days in March. Ms. Procopio is currently a visiting artist at University of the Arts in Philadelphia and will be teaching at the internationally renowned American Dance Festival this coming summer in Durham, NC, which is held at Duke University.

Sara Procopio taught four days of master classes to the Fine Arts Center dancers (March 5-8) . Ms. Procopio is a founding member with Shen Wei Dance Arts and her classes were mainly based on the technique of Shen Wei. Shen Wei Dance Arts performed at Spoleto last June as well as at the American Dance Festival in July and just recently in New York City in December.

Sara Procopio talked to students, parents and our guidance counselor, Gloria Collins, about dance in college and careers in dance during her residency at the Fine Arts Center.

Photos are of guest artist, Joan Wadopian, with the morning dancers during the eight days of her dance residency in February. She taught master classes and had a question/answer session with them giving the dancers information about her career as a professional dancer, college dance programs, and auditioning. Joan Wadopian has had a successful dance career dancing with the renowned Shen Wei Dance Arts. Previously she performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre having trained at the Alvin Ailey School and receiving her BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase.

Joan Wadopian was visiting dance artist at the Fine Arts Center for 8 days in February setting a work on the afternoon students and teaching master classes to the morning dance students. The choreography is set to music performed by her father, Eliot Wadopian and will be performed in the Dance Concert on April 27.

Since 2005, Joan Wadopian has worked as a principal dancer with the New York-based modern dance company, Shen Wei Dance Arts (SWDA), performing at renowned festivals and venues in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Israel, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Prior to joining SWDA, Joan performed with the Kevin Wynn Collection and as a guest artist with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She trained extensively at the Alvin Ailey School, and holds a BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase (2002). In addition to performing with SWDA, she teaches Yoga, Pilates and movement based therapy classes to senior citizens.

Photos are of Joan Wadopian with the afternoon dancers.

FAC students took a field trip to see KyleAbraham/Abraham.In.Motion on
Saturday, February 18th at the Chapman Cultural Center Theater in Spartanburg, SC.
Dance magazine called choreographer Kyle Abraham

“

equal parts power and grace

”

. The program describes Kyle Abraham as having diverse training in classical music, visual art and dance forms, from ballet to hip-hop which gives range and depth to a sleek evocative work that probes the complex relationships between identity and personal history. Pictured in the back row are Jessica Wilson and Ashley Gilbert, theatre tech students; second row are Kaitlyn Schultz, Kendall Roberson, Sydney Parker, and Tara Taylor, dance students; front row are Andreia Wardlaw, Briana Hunter and Carley Tomlinson, dance students. Mireille Fehler, Lael King and Mattison Williams, dance students, also attended the performance, but are not pictured. Dirk Holleman, FAC Theatre Tech Director, drove the FAC Activity Bus and the field trip was arranged by Jan Woodward.