Upcoming - Sac State Dance Concert

Looks like an interesting time coming up at Sac State!:

Six faculty choreographers and two special guest-artist choreographers will have free rein for all forms of dance during Dance Sites 2007/ new work in choreography and performance, at Sacramento State’s University Theatre, 6000 J. Street.

Performances are Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 6-9.

Directed by Theatre and Dance professor Lorelei Bayne, the program features almost 50 performers in dance works including contemporary ballet, tap, modern, salsa and jazz. “Each piece is it’s own entity, so the choreographers can let their creativity lead them and explore new ideas regarding live performance,” Bayne says.

In addition to Bayne, the faculty choreographers are Nathan Jones, Lisa Ross, Karen Toon, Nolan T’Sani and Melissa Wynn. The guest artists are Randy Solorio and Sac State alum Jill Stripling. “The genre in movement each artist works with is individual, exposing performers and audience to a diverse feast for the eyes.”
Ross’ piece is a reflection of images of French culture and art and her love of the French language. “So it’s all of those images and the feelings they invoke,” Ross says.

Her work is contemporary jazz-based with some characteristics of musical theater and will feature different pieces of music from traditional French with accordion, to French children’s tunes as well as a Celine Dion song.
Ross hopes the audience will see the images of French artwork through the dancers’ performance.

Bayne describes her own piece as elegantly eerie, done by eleven women to one of F. Chopin’s few orchestral works. New full-time lecturer, Melissa Wynn will combine African-influenced movement, text and the music of Phillip Glass with contemporary dance, while Jill Stripling’s piece is a physically challenging work for five, exploring human crisis. New part-time faculty, Nathan Jones, will perform his own solo work.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 and Dec. 7-8; at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9; and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6. Cost for the 6:30 p.m. shows is $8 general admission and $5 for children 11 years old or younger. All other performances are $12 general admission; $10 for students, seniors and Sacramento State employees; and $8 for children.

Immediately following the performance on Friday, Nov. 30, there will be a short Q and A with the choreographers- all welcome to attend!

Go to www.csus.edu/news/imagedownload/ for a high resolution photo. For more information, call the Theatre and Dance Department at (916) 278-6368. For media assistance, contact Sacramento State’s Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156.