Thursday, April 10, 2014

Brian McGinnis Guest Choreographer-in-Residence






Brian McGinnis set two new works of choreography on the FAC Dancers from March 24-28th.  

The AM piece of choreography, “Until It Happens” is an exploration in the anticipatory nature of wanting to know what is next, instead of living in the “here and now.”  The piece includes partnering, brief solos and lush ensemble sections.

"Paloma Negra" (Black Dove) is a second section of a previous piece "Mi Corazon Esta en Fuego," which 
was commissioned by the FAC in 2012.  This ensemble piece was set on the PM Dancers.

Both pieces will be performed in the FAC Dance Concert on April 25th.  

To see video recordings of the last day of rehearsal with Brian McGinnis go to the following links:

“Paloma Negra” Informal Showing at FAC, last day of Brian McGinnis’s residency, March 28th.  Just completed the choreography the day before on the PM Dancers. 


 “Until It Happens—AM Dancers-Informal Showing of choreography by Brian McGinnis on March 28, 2014


Brian McGinnis in FAC Dance Studio

Informal FAC AM Showing last day of residency 

Informal FAC PM Showing last day of residency

Brian McGinnis with PM Dancers

PM Dancers and Brian McGinnis


Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Master Class with Ballet Master from Dance Theatre of Harlem

Fine Arts Center Dancers had the opportunity to take a master class from Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Ballet Master, Keith Saunders, in the Peace Center Concert Hall Rehearsal Studio on March 24th.  Many of the FAC dancers were in the audience the following evening to see the Dance Theatre of Harlem perform and to participate in the Talk Back with Artistic Director, Virginia Johnson.  Ms. Johnson was a founding member of the Dance Theater of Harlem and its principal ballerina.
Kiersten Rist at ballet barre in front; next to last Peyton Lemen; end of barre Kathy Gale

Ballet barre with Keith Saunders, Ballet Master with Dance Theatre of Harlem

FAC Dancers at ballet barre in master class at Peace Center


Ballet Master of Dance Theatre of  Harlem, Keith Saunders, with FAC Dancers

Tyler Gilstrap sets two works on FAC Dancers



Just back from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Tyler Gilstrap was guest choreographer in residence for a week setting two works on the FAC Dancers in February.  “The Collective Part Deux” is the title of the work she set on the morning dancers and “Not It” for the afternoon dancers.  Both pieces of choreography will be performed April 25th in the FAC Dance Concert.

Tyler working with PM dancers

Tyler Gilstrap and the AM Dancers
AM Dancers in costume for "The Collective Part Deux"

Makeup for "Not It"
Tyler Gilstrap (Danville, VA) earned her BFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University. She was a founding member of Battleworks Dance Company (2001-2010), under the direction of Robert Battle.  Recently, she was the associate choreographer for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.  Ms. Gilstrap has been a featured dancer in such films as 'Across the Universe’, ’The Wackness,' and the Italian TV show 'Amici.'  She was also the assistant choreographer for the film; 'Love and Other Drugs' and the Italian San Remo TV Award show for the past three years.  She has been a guest artist with the Bavarian State Opera, Irish Modern Dance Theater, The Windmill Factory, Azure Barton, New York Theater Ballet, Corbin Dances, and Amy Marshall Dance Company.  She has taught hip-hop, improv, contemporary, and modern dance in Russia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and throughout the USA.  She is currently is on faculty at Montclair State University.


Sunday, April 06, 2014

Rebecca Lee is Guest Choreographer in November 2013

Rebecca Lee set a new piece of choreography on the PM Dancers, titled “Change.”  It was performed in the FAC Winter Showcase in the Black Box Theatre December 20th.  

To watch the video of the performance go to the following link:  http://youtu.be/pELMrSgeg9c

The dance will also be performed in the annual Fine Arts Center Dance Concert, Friday, April 25th.






Rebecca is an FAC Dance Alumna and received her MFA from Florida State University.  She is currently the Dance Director for ARMES, the afterschool dance program for elementary and middle school students.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Mireille Fehler Wins 2013 National NDEO Award

Mireille Fehler

Mireille Fehler was selected as the 2013 Winner in the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) NHSDA Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award.

Photo by Madeline Knight, FAC Photography Student of Rod Fincannon

There were only two selected at the national level.  She was invited to the National NDEO Conference in Miami, Florida to be recognized and to perform the solo she choreographed for the award.


The Fine Arts Center has had several NDEO Award winners since establishing a chapter of the NHSDA (National Honor Society for Dance Arts).

2013  Award Winner - Mireille, Fehler 
2012  Award Finalist - Jacqueline Calle 
2011 Award Finalist - Samantha Patterson 
2009 Award Honorable Mention - Lauren Miller
2008 Award Finalish - Amanda Porter






Saturday, October 26, 2013

Tim Glenn, FSU Associate Professor of Dance Teaches Master Classes

Tim Glenn


Tim Glenn, Associate Professor of Dance at Florida State University, was artist-in-residence at the Fine Arts Center October 10-11 giving master classes in the Nikolais technique—Mr. Glenn was a former member of the Nikolais Dance Theatre.  A professional development workshop was presented to art, theatre, dance, and physical education teachers in Greenville County Schools on Thursday evening. Mr. Glenn has also worked as videographer for the Paul Taylor Dance Company's Repertory Preservation Project and has documented 27 masterworks by the renowned choreographer, Paul Taylor. 









Madeline Jazz Harvey Sets Choreographic Work



Madeline Jazz Harvey


Guest Choreographer at the Fine Arts Center, Madeline Jazz Harvey, set a new work, titled Song, on the morning dancers over a period of five days.  Ms. Harvey is currently a dancer with CBT (Carolina Ballet Theatre), having performed with the North Carolina Dance Theatre before coming to Greenville.

Matt Harvey, CBT dancer, helps Madeline demonstrate during rehearsal

Her choreographer’s statement about her work:  “I wanted to create a work that would challenge the dancers' technique and artistry.  ”Song" uses my personal movement style to construct a collage of signature dance elements from both ballet and modern forms. Woven through the choreography are team building exercises which I hope will help the dancers grow both individually and as an ensemble.”











Saturday, October 19, 2013

Master Class with Diavolo Dance Theater

The FAC Dancers traveled to the Peace Center for the Performing Arts for a master class with three members of the Diavalo Dance Theater on September 23rd and saw the performance of the company the following evening.  The Diavolo Dance Theater is directed by Jacques Heim and is an internationally renowned dance company whose members have backgrounds not only in dance, but also gymnastics, and other athletic endeavors.  

FAC Dancers, Mireille Fehler and Sydney Parker, were interviewed by WYFF and appeared on the evening news along with video coverage of some of the master class.  To see the segment that aired on WYFF, go to the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSM1hA8awYkWYFF story about Diavolo and FAC Master Class
















For more information about Diavolo go to their website  http://www.diavolo.org/





Friday, September 20, 2013

FAC Dancer’s Summer 2013 DANCE INTENSIVES & EXPERIENCES



Dancers took advantage of many diverse opportunities to train this summer.  

Junior, Lauren Hurley attended the prestigious ABT (American Ballet Theater) Summer Intensive in New York City for 5 weeks.  She stayed an extra week to see two performances: ABT’s Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center.

Lauren Hurley and her mother at Lincoln Center

Kaitlyn Schultz, a senior, attended the Florida State University’s School of Dance Summer Dance Intensive for two weeks and studied with Tim Glenn, who was our guest choreographer last year.  Mr. Glenn will be a guest artist teaching two days of master classes this October.


Kaitlyn Schultz and Tim Glenn at FSU
Carley Tomlinson, a senior, attended the USC-Summer Dance Conservatory in Columbia, SC July 7-July 26.

Kathy Gale, a senior, attended Oklahoma City University’s summer musical theatre program for ten days and Sydney Parker, a junior, attended the NYC Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary Summer Intensive for one week.

Freshmen dancers attended summer dance intensives

Peyton Lemen, a freshman, attended the Houston Ballet's Summer Intensive program for 6 weeks studying with Lauren Anderson, Barbara Bears, Claudio Munoz among others.  She danced six days a week focusing on ballet technique, learning classical variations and repertory, and taking supplementary classes such as modern, jazz, character dance, and musical theater.

Peyton Lemen
Kiersten Rist, a freshman, attended the 5 week advanced ballet intensive at the Atlanta Ballet Summer Intensive in Atlanta, which had daily classes in ballet, pointe and modern technique as well as musical theatre and hip hop.

Kiersten Rist at Atlanta Ballet Summer Intensive
Freshmen dancers Lucy Quattlebaum and Ellen Kilby, attended the ABT (American Ballet Theater) Summer Intensive in Winston-Salem at UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts) for four weeks.

Johanna Butow and Lucy Quattlebaum
Samuel Painter, a freshman, participated in Carolina Ballet Theatre’s Summerworks for 3 weeks in Greenville.

Samuel Painter at CBT Summerworks

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fine Arts Center Dance Ensemble Graduating Seniors 2013

Elizabeth Byouk was accepted into Coastal Carolina University, Winthrop University, and the College of Charleston.  Elizabeth performed in musical theatre productions in Greenville and Spartanburg performing in such roles as Penny in Hairspray and Hunyak in Chicago.  She recently choreographed the musical A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Farce at Greer Children’s Theatre. She attended the FAC for three years and plans on pursuing musical theatre in college.   She is currently attending Winthrop University.


Jacqueline Calle was accepted into Florida State University and the State University of New York (SUNY at Purchase).  She was also accepted into North Carolina Dance Theater's 5- week summer intensive with a scholarship and was offered a position as a Trainee with the North Carolina Dance Theater for the upcoming 2013-2014 year. Jacqueline attended the FAC for four years and was the Vice President of the FAC Chapter of the NHSDA.  During her junior year she was selected an NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) National Finalist (one of the top five in the nation) and a Junior Marshall for the FAC graduating class of 2012. She was also an American Dance Festival (ADF) Scholarship Recipient for 2012, a 6-week summer program at Duke University. While at ADF she was offered a professional company position with the Charlottesville Ballet in Virginia. She also danced with Carolina Ballet Theatre (CBT) and performed in many of their productions.

Jacqueline received the Sheffield Wood Scholarship, which is the highest honor presented to a Fine Arts Center graduating senior.  She is currently attending the State University of New York at Purchase in their Dance Conservatory program.




Rhiannon Laymon was accepted into the dance programs at California Institute for the Arts, University of the Arts, Florida State University, and the University of South Carolina.  Rhiannon attended the FAC for four years and was the President of NHSDA. She attended the summer dance intensive at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia last summer.  Rhiannon models professionally and has signed with Monarch Talent Agency in Charlotte, NC for acting and modeling and has appeared in advertisements for Hammrick’s and Universal and Premier Yarn.  She also danced with Dancer’s Corner after school and was very active in student government at Eastside High School.
She is currently attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a dance major.

photo by Ashley Amber

Nikki Morath was accepted into the college dance programs at Florida State University and Point Park University and last summer attended the one-week Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary summer intensive in New York City.  She completed two years at the FAC, actively performing with the Fine Arts Center Dance Ensemble. Nikki also placed as regional winner in the PTA Reflections contest in Choreography.  She danced with Dancer’s Corner after school and was active in the Beta Club and National Honor Society at Riverside High School.
She is currently attending Point Park University as a Dance Major.

photo by Ashley Amber



Kara Nightingale completed her fourth year at the FAC and was accepted into the dance programs at Point Park University and University of South Carolina.  She was a member of the Fine Arts Center Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and also the National Honor Society at Wade Hampton High School, her home high school. She danced after school with Dancer’s Corner and has choreographed for local dance studios.  She is currently attending the College of Charleston.


Mattison Williams completed three years at the Fine Arts Center and was Valedictorian at Greer Middle College High School.  She was accepted into the Nursing Program at Clemson University, where she is currently studying.  Mattison volunteered extensively with the ARMES Dance Program and for the past two years she designed the lighting and ran the ARMES Dance Concerts.  She hopes to be involved in theatre productions at Clemson University using some of her training in dance/choreography and the theatre technical skills she learned studying with Dirk Holleman.  She was a member of the Fine Arts Center Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and also the National Honor Society and Beta Club at her home high school.

Hannah Winton was accepted into the dance programs at Florida State University, Point Park University, and University of Georgia.  She was Valedictorian at Greenville Technical Charter High School.  Last summer she attended the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary two-week summer intensive in Miami.  She was Treasurer of the Fine Arts Center Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and was also a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club at her home high school.  Hannah completed four years at the FAC and she also studied dance at Dancer’s Corner.


She is currently attending USC in Columbia and planning a career in chemical engineering.