Gerri Houlihan, Professor of Dance at Florida State University and Interim Dean at the American Dance Festival, restaged her dance “Mercy” on the dancers in October. The dance was performed throughout the year and closed the concert on May 6th. The uplifting and fun dance is choreographed to music by Roy Orbison.

Joan Wadopian (dancer with Shen Wei Dance Arts) choreographed “Spatial 9” to music composed and performed by Free Planet Radio. The choreographic work was a collaboration between the choreographer and the dancers. The music was a little more challenging using counts in 4, 9 and 12. A grant from the Metropolitan Arts Council helped pay for the two-week residency to set the new work. We were fortunate that she was able to join us in the audience and on the stage for the May 6th concert.

Gerri Houlihan restaged her dance Mercy. Hebrides was choreographed for the dancers last year by Brian McGinnis and was performed again, but this time on a proscenium stage. Rebecca Lee choreographed Poppets and was invited onto the stage for bows.

Student pieces of choreography

FAC Dancers performed works by Rebecca Lee and Brian McGinnis in the FAC Dance Concert.

Gerri Houlihan, who is Professor of Dance at Florida State University and Interim Dean at the American Dance Festival, set one of her dances on the FAC dancers in October, 2010. The dance, "Mercy" will be performed in the May 6th FAC Dance Concert in the Wade Hampton High School Theatre. Curtain is at 7:00 p.m.

A few studio photos of Rebecca Lee’s dance "Poppets", which will be performed in our May 6th Dance Concert.

Dancers are preparing for the May 6th FAC Dance Concert to be held in the Wade Hampton High School Theatre. Curtain is at 7:00 pm. Photos of the dance "Hebrides" choreographed by Brian McGinnis and costumes created and designed by Carol Phillips. Other guest choreographers are Gerri Houlihan, Joan Wadopian and Rebecca Lee.

Students dressed as their favorite teacher during the week of our Gala. Photo of Maren dressed as Ms. Woodward!

February 4th Fine Arts Center dancers took a field trip to see the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s final performance in North Carolina at the Durham Performing Arts Center. The company will disband in December 2011, which is two years after Merce Cunningham’s death. The dancers saw the company perform Sounddance (1975), Duets (1980) and Biped (1999).

Merce Cunningham’s dance company was formed at Black Mountain, NC in 1953 and influenced American art and the avant-garde. He worked with musician and composer John Cage and artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.

On Friday the dancers visited UNCSA in Winston-Salem, NC where they were able to observe a partnering class and have a campus tour. On Saturday morning the dancers visited Duke University where the acclaimed American Dance Festival is held every summer.

Photos were taken on the campus of Duke University.