Rebecca Lee, a FAC Dance Alumna, was a guest artist at the Fine Arts Center October 17-21. She set a new piece of choreography on the AM dancers during her week residency. Rebecca received her M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University and currently teaches ballet to the A.R.M.E.S. dancers (the after school dance program for elementary and middle school students held at the Fine Arts Center). This is her second choreography residency at the Fine Arts Center.

Marcy Jo Yonkey-Clayton taught a master class in dance improvisation focusing on the use of weight to the PM dancers on October 20th. Following the class Ms. Yonkey-Clayton spoke about the Dance Program at Columbia College, where she is a Visiting Professor of Dance in Columbia, SC. She received her M.F.A. in Dance from Texas Women’s University and her B.A. in Dance and Philosophy from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. She also is a member of The Power Company, the professional modern dance company based at Columbia College. Lauren Miller, a graduate in Dance from the Fine Arts Center, is currently a junior in the Dance Program at Columbia College and assisted Ms. Yonkey-Clayton.

Brian McGinnis returned to the FAC for a two-week choreography residency from September 12-23 when he set a piece of choreography on the AM dancers titled Tranceaccordian and the PM dancers titled Mi Corazon Esta en Fuego. Mi Corazon Esta Fuego uses cubes as props for the dancers to sit on, but never really stand on. Both classes showed the pieces to the FAC students and faculty on Mr. McGinnis’ last day. Both dances will be performed in the final Fine Arts Center Dance Concert on April 27th. Brian McGinnis is in rehearsal with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company for their next performance in New York City in November.

Fine Arts Center Dancers share classes with Tanglewood Middle School students
The Fine Arts Center Dancers took a field trip to Tanglewood Middle School and shared classes with 7th and 8th grade students, which Jan Woodward, the Fine Arts Center dance instructor taught. The Tanglewood Middle School students take dance from Jeanne Castor, who graduated from the Fine Arts Center when she was in high school.

Brian McGinnis was guest artist-in-residence at the Fine Arts Center for two weeks setting two pieces of choreography on the student dancers. Mr. McGinnis graduated from The Juilliard School with a B.F.A. in dance, and has danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Elisa Monte Dance, David Parsons Dance Company, and currently with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company based in New York City.

While he was in residence, the film students collaborated on a documentary film that will be shown on the Arts Schools Network website, sponsored by Santa Fe University of Art and Design. The Fine Arts Center film crew pictured in the photo are Stephen Simmons, Sofia Yankelevitch and Weston Catron along with Brian McGinnis and Fine Arts Center Director, Dr. Roy Fluhrer.