Alumna Amanda Porter shares adjustments and information about "Chaconne".

Amanda Porter (Dance 2009) shared an afternoon with the FAC PM Dancers giving them information about the choreographed work Chaconne by Tim Glenn, Associate Professor of Dance at Florida State University.  Tim Glenn set the work, Chaconne, on the FAC dancers in October and then set the same piece of choreography later on FSU dancers in Tallahassee, Florida.  Amanda, who is cast in Chaconne at FSU, worked with the FAC dancers on adjustments that have been made to the choreography since Mr. Glenn was here at the FAC last October.  Amanda is a graduating with a BFA in Dance at FSU this Spring.

Dancers organize first Improv Jam: Winter Improv Jam

Jacqueline Calle proposed the idea of having a school-wide Fine Arts Center Improvisation Jam having experienced such events at the American Dance Festival this past summer.  Rhiannon Laymon helped organize the Winter Improv Jam on December 17^th in the Dance Studio as she is President of the FAC Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.  The Theatre Tech Crew hung Christmas lights in the dance studio to give atmosphere and students from all of the arts areas participated.  Several FAC Dance Alumni attended and participated!  The plan is have another Improv Jam in March.

Stephen Simmons created this video clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYidKW4euSo&feature=youtu.be

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