Dancers take master class with two cast members from “Billy Elliot”

On February 14^th the afternoon dancers had the privilege of taking a master class with two cast members from the National Tour of “Billy Elliot-The Musical” at the Peace Center. The dancers learned a dance that was a compilation of various sections of the show—it was non-stop dancing for the entire hour class!

To see more--go to the link below posted by Greenville Online, which includes interviews:

Link to video from master class with Christopher Howard and Peyton Royal with "Billy Elliot"!

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013302140013

Master Class at the Peace Center

Video Clip below is an excerpt from the class

Dancers with Peyton Royal and Christopher Howard

Guest Artist Rebecca Lee sets new choreographic work

Rebecca Lee

Rebecca Lee set a challenging work on the AM dancers during her week residency in February.  Ms Lee, an alumna of the Fine Arts Center, received her BFA from Columbia College in Columbia, SC and her MFA from Florida State University. She has been a company member with Dance Repertory Theatre in Tallahassee, Florida, The Power Company in Columbia, South Carolina and guest artist with the Wildwood Ballet.  She has also danced with Christian von Howard in the Von Howard Project in New York City.

Terry Jarrard-Dimond, Visual Artist in Residence, Speaks with Dancers

Terry Jarrard-Dimond and AM Dancers

Dancers listen to Terry Jarrard-Dimond speak about the similarities between art and dance composition.  Ms. Jarrard-Dimond is a textile construction artist and her work is on exhibit in the Francis Sheffield Wood Gallery at the Fine Arts Center from January 23^rd through March 22^nd.  She was in residence for two weeks working with students and sharing her experiences as a textile industry designer and professional artist.

VINCAS GREENE teaches master classes

Vincas Greene, professor of Dance at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, taught master classes on January 31^st.  He received his MFA from California Institute of the Arts and has trained with dance artists Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris and Gerri Houlihan among others.  He has choreographed over forty choreographic works and three operas.

AM Dancers

PM Dancers

Tyler Gilstrap is Dance Guest Artist in January 2013

Tyler Gilstrap restaged her dance “Crash Rhythm” on the morning dancers and created a new choreographic work “Last Dance” on the afternoon dancers.  Ms. Gilstrap earned her BFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University and performed “Midsummer Marriage” with the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Germany after graduation.  She has danced with Morales Dance, Patrick Corbin, and Amy Marshall Dance Company and has been a guest artist with the Dodge Dance Company and New York Theater Ballet.

Ms. Gilstrap has been a featured dancer in such films as “Across the Universe”, directed by Julie Taymor, and “The Wackness”, directed by Jonathan Levine.  She was also the assistant choreographer for the film, “Love and Other Drugs”.  Ms. Gilstrap has taught hip-hop and modern dance in Germany, Hungary, Italy and throughout the United States, and was a founding member of Battleworks Dance Company, under the direction of Robert Battle.

Photo of dancers from the afternoon class in rehearsal of "Last Dance" during Tyler Gilstrap's residency.

Dancers perform in the Winter Honors Showcase on December 19, 2012

Both classes performed in the Winter Honors Showcase on December 19^th.  The AM Dancers performed Allegretto choreographed by Andrew Kuharsky to music by Ludwig van Beethoven.  The dancers who performed are:  Maggie Black, Cannon Cobb, Kathy Gale, Florida Guxholli, Megan Hannon, Hope Harvard, Paige Hollister, Olivia Hopkins, Lauren Hurley, Addison Kreisher, and Rachel Spitzmiller.

In the afternoon showcase, Hannah Winton performed a solo she choreographed to music by Edith Piaf performed by Louis Armstrong.  The video clip is of Hannah in rehearsal in the Black Box Theatre.  From Here to the Sky choreographed by Guest Artist Sara Procopio was performed by Jacqueline Calle, Makenna Farr, Nikki Morath, Kara Nightingale, Sydney Parker, Kendall Roberson, Carley Tomlinson, and Hannah Winton.

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