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.