Student choreography-“Gathering Storm” by Mireille Fehler

Generation to Generation Performance May 2, 2014

Student and alumni created work were performed in our 15^th annual performance of  Generation to Generation.  

"Gathering Storm" choreography by Mireille Fehler

Dancers:  Olivia Hopkins, Lauren Hurley, Kiersten Rist

Dancers:  Kiersten Rist, Olivia Hopkins, Lauren Hurley

Olivia Hopkins and Kiersten Rist perform in the FAC Black Box Theatre

Olivia Hopkins and Kiersen Rist in "Gathering Storm" by Mireille Fehler

NHSDA Induction Ceremony April 25, 2014

NHSDA Induction Ceremony with all members

The following students were inducted into the FAC Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA): Makenna Farr, Kathy Gale, Olivia Hopkins, Ellen Kilby, Peyton Lemen, Samuel Painter, Ashley Pavia, Nicole Pavia, Lucy Quattlebaum, Kiersten Rist, Callie Thackston and Leah Wade.

We just received information that Sydney Parker is the SCDEO (state-level for 2014) winner for the NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award, and her application score qualified her for advancement to the national level.  

NHSDA members who are graduating seniors

The National Honor Society for Dance Arts

Presents into membership

Certificates

Makenna Farr

Kathy Gale

Olivia Hopkins

Ellen Kilby

Peyton Lemen

Samuel Painter

Ashley Pavia

Nicole Pavia

Lucy Quattlebaum

Kiersten Rist

Callie Thackston

Leah Wade

First Star Awards

Makenna Farr

Kathy Gale

Olivia Hopkins

Peyton Lemen

Sydney Parker

Ashley Pavia

Nicole Pavia

 Second Star Awards

Peyton Lemen

Sydney Parker

Rachel Spitzmiller

Third Star Awards

Sydney Parker

Rachel Spitzmiller

Fourth Star Awards

Lauren Hurley

Fifth Star Awards

Lauren Hurley

Kaitlyn Schultz

Current Members

Caitlin Drummond *

Mireille Fehler *****‡

Lauren Hurley***

Sydney Parker

Kaitlyn Schultz ***

Rachel Spitzmiller*

Carley Tomlinson*

‡ Mireille Fehler was one of two National Winners in the 2013 NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award!  She was invited to perform in the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) National Convention in Miami, Florida last October, 2013.

*number of Stars earned—each Star places member at the next level

April 25, 2014

The Fine Arts Center

Greenville, South Carolina

Induction Ceremony

Welcome ………..………………………………………………..………....Mireille Fehler, President

Presentation of Certificates to New NHSDA Members ………..…Kaitlyn Schultz, Vice President

Presentation of Star Awards ……………………………….……….…Caitlin Drummond, Treasurer

                                                                                                          Carley Tomlinson, Secretary   

        

Closing Remarks …………………………………………………………….……...….Jan Woodward

Photos taken ………………………………………………………………………........………Parents

Officers for 2013-2014

President: Mireille Fehler

Vice President:  Kaitlyn Schultz

Secretary:  Carley Tomlinson

Treasurer:  Caitlin Drummond

The MISSION

The primary mission of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) is to promote and honor outstanding dance achievement and to encourage well-rounded dance artists to become leaders in their communities after high school graduation.

            The National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) serves to identify those honor students of junior and senior high school age for nomination to the National Dance Education Organization’s (NDEO) Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, the highest dance award in the nation.

             

ELIGIBILITY for membership

Student membership in the NHSDA is awarded on the basis of points earned for meritorious work in dance that meet the honor society’s general guidelines and, when appropriate, on the basis of dance class grade point average.  In addition, the prospective member’s demonstration of collaborative teamwork, motivation, and participation in the many aspects of dance (choreography, performance, teaching, production, etc.) is a factor in the determination of eligibility for membership.

All junior and senior high school age students inducted into a NHSDA Student Chapter are eligible for nomination, by the Chapter Sponsor, to receive the NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award.

Studio Rehearsals for the Fine Arts Center Dance Concert

"Paloma Negra" choreographed by Brian McGinnis for the PM Dancers
Photo:  Shay Felknor

Dancers rehearse for their Fine Arts Center Dance Concert to be performed Friday, April 25^th with

choreography by guest choreographers Brian McGinnis (most recently performing with Lar Lubovitch), Tyler Gilstrap (associate choreographer for the Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony), Rebecca Lee (Greenville Ballet) and Madeline Jazz Harvey (CBT).  All FAC dancers will be performing, so it will be a good opportunity for you to see what we do at the Fine Arts Center. 

We have moved the concert to the Wade Hampton High School Theatre (adjacent to the FAC) because there is more seating for the audience.  Curtain is at 7:00 pm and tickets are $5.00.  The performance should be over by 8:30 pm.

Also, the dancers from League Academy will be performing a piece choreographed by Lynne McCain.

The photos were taken by Shay Felknor during rehearsals in the FAC Dance Studio.

"Change" choreographed by Rebecca Lee for the PM Dancers
Photo:  Shay Felknor

"Change" choreographed by Rebecca Lee
Photo: Shay Felknor

"Until It Happens" choreographed by Brian McGinnis for the AM Dancers
Photo:  Shay Felknor

Brian McGinnis Guest Choreographer-in-Residence

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

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:

http://youtu.be/UwREx5rGZf8

“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. 

http://youtu.be/vNW40TZSRvY

 “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

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 24^th.  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 25^th 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.

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 20^th.  

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 25^th.

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.

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

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.”