Tyler Gilstrap sets two pieces of choreography on FAC Dancers

Tyler Gilstrap with dancers

Tyler Gilstrap set two pieces of choreography on the dancers in October, two weeks after Brian McGinnis was in residence.

Her first piece, “We Declare” has choreographic roots from The Feast Conference held at Pioneer Works for which she was the choreographer. Ms Gilstrap’s, “We Declare” and “Ascent” will be performed in the annual dance concert April 23 and 24 in the Wade Hampton High School Theatre.

Rehearsal during Dance Residency with Tyler Gilstrap

Olivia and Rachel help Tyler Gilstrap in the master class with the ARMES dancers.

Olivia, Tyler and Rachel 

Olivia and Rachel demonstrating in ARMES master class

The Fine Arts Center choreographic project with Tyler Gilstrap was funded in part by a grant from the Metropolitan Arts Council, which receives funding from the City of Greenville, BMW Manufacturing Company, LLC, Michelin North America, Inc., and the South Carolina Arts Commission with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

Brian McGinnis Guest Artist/Choreographer in October!

Brian McGinnis set two new pieces of choreography on the FAC Dancers in early October as well as teaching master classes as part of the Pre-Greenville Dance Festival. He was also the special guest artist for the biennial Greenville Dance Festival.

The new works by Brian McGinnis, “The Story Behind Your Eyes” and “Blush” will be performed in the annual dance concert April 23 and 24 in the Wade Hampton High School Theatre. 

Peyton and Sam in rehearsal 

PM Dancers in rehearsal

Brian with dancers before informal showing

Brian with dancers

Brian with PM dancers

Master Class and performance of Paul Taylor Dance Company

The FAC Dancers had a master class with George Smallwood, a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company on September 17^th.  Mr. Smallwood also performed with David Parsons, Lar Lubovitch and was a founding member of Battleworks.

On September 18^th FAC Dance, Theatre and Music students took a field trip to see the Paul Taylor Dance Company perform at the Brooks Performing Arts Center in Clemson.

George Smallwood

FAC Students at Brooks Performing Arts Center for performance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company

George Smallwood talks with students after the performance

George Smallwood teaching Master Class at FAC

Students attend Summer Dance Intensives

     Lauren Hurley attended the American Ballet Theatre’s five week summer program in New York City where she was also able to see ABT perform in the Metropolitan Opera House in Swan Lake, Giselle and Coppélia.

     Kiersten Rist attended the Boston Ballet for five weeks this summer taking classes from members of the Boston Ballet as well as a former dancer with Twyla Tharp. She traveled to Saratoga Springs to see the New York City Ballet perform.

     Sam Painter attended Charlotte Ballet’s (formerly North Carolina Dance Theater) five week summer intensive. He studied the styles of Balanchine and Dwight Rhoden.  Patricia McBride is this year’s recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.

     Ellen Kilby and Lucy Quattlebaum studied at The Rock School of Education for three weeks in Philadelphia focusing primarily on classical ballet and pointe. 

     Olivia Hopkins attended the summer dance intensive at George Mason University for two weeks studying classical ballet and the modern techniques of José Limón and Paul Taylor.

     Sydney Parker, Lucy Ranson, Rachel Spitzmiller and Leah Wade participated in Dance Sessions in Massachusetts for one week studying contemporary, modern and improvisation. 

Lauren Hurley with Jared Matthews of ABT

Lauren Hurley (number 232) in photo on Facebook

Kiersten Rist in Boston

Sam Painter in front of Charlotte Ballet Studio

Ellen Kilby at The Rock School 

Lucy Quattlebaum at The Rock School

Sydney Parker receives NHSDA Award from National Dance Education Organization

Sydney Parker is one of the two Finalists for the Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award at the national level.

Sydney Parker with her SCDEO certficate from the State

To see Sydney's video on the NDEO website:

Studio photo by FAC Photography Student

Performance at Artisphere May 2014

"An Unwandered World" choreographed and performed by Sydney Parker

Sydney has been invited to attend the national NDEO Conference in Chicago in early November so that she can publicly be recognized for receiving the award.

Kaitlyn Schultz’s Choreography “No Words Left”

"No Words Left" choreographed by Kaitlyn Schultz
Dancers:  Kiersten Rist and Samuel Painter
Photography: Shay Felknor
FAC Dance Concert April 25, 2014

Kaitlyn Schultz’s choreography “No Words Left” was adjudicated and selected to be performed in our FAC Dance Concert as well as in Generation to Generation and Artisphere.  

"No Words Left" choreographed by Kaitlyn Schultz
Dancers:  Samuel Painter, Kiersten Rist, Callie Thackston, Jack Beaule
Photography:  Shay Felknor
FAC Dance Concert April 25, 2014

Kaitlyn has been accepted into Marymount Manhattan College, University of the Arts, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Hollins University, and Breanu University.  She also dances at Carolina Ballet Theatre and has performed in The Nutcracker, Ghost, Sleeping Beauty, and Arabian Nights.  She will attend Marymount Manhattan College next fall as a dance major.

Kathy Gale’s choreography presented in three different venues

Kathy Gale

Kathy Gale, a graduating senior, had her choreography adjudicated to perform in the FAC Dance Concert, Generation to Generation and Artisphere.  

"Time Against Us" choreographed by Kathy Gale performed in FAC Dance Concert

Kathy will attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the fall, majoring in dance.

Kathy Gale's choreography-"Time Against Us"

"Time Against Us" performed in Generation to Generation at FAC

LINKS Scholarship to FAC Dancer-Olivia Hopkins

Olivia Hopkins, a sophomore, is the recipient of a $500 scholarship from The Links, Incorporated, as a student artist in their “Classics Through the Ages” program.  She will use her scholarship to help pay for her Summer Dance Intensive at George Mason University this summer.

Olivia Hopkins at LINKS "Run for the Roses" 

Performance at Artisphere-her solo "No Limits"

Artisphere performance

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