“It’s a collage created by eleven different choreographers,” explained director Linda Maxwell, “with different ways of working, different cultural roots and different styles of dance.”
Most of the choreographers are HSU students, from both the dance program within the Theatre, Film and Dance department, and from the Interdisciplinary Dance Studies seminar, which stresses partnerships with musicians and other artists. That’s why the concert will also include an opera singer and several large Chinese drums.
The drums accompany “Inahan,” (“Mother”) by student Jessica O. Manuel, whose choreography for HSU’s concert last spring was recently presented at the American College Dance Festival in Arizona.
The opera singer is David Powell, an HSU grad who studied at the Boston Conservatory of Performing Arts. He sings for Linda Maxwell’s dance, “Desir Deplace,” which expresses themes of love, loss and moving on.
The partnership of student Jackie Silva and HSU faculty advisor for folklorico dance Jeff O’Connor brings traditional dances of the Yucatan region of Mexico to the Van Duzer stage, including a “jarana” in which dancers on small platforms balance trays of bottles and dishes on their heads. “These dances are very intense, and a lot of fun to watch,” Maxwell said.
Bathing beauties in a comic water ballet make a “Splash” as choreographed by Dance faculty member Erin Fernandez. A unique feature of the concert is a spoof of spy movies (“Beats Me”) set to music by Henry Mancini, choreographed as a group project, and presented in three parts scattered throughout the event.
Student choreographers explore themes such as the mental swirl of emotion (“Cortex Kaleidoscope” by Julia Giardino), cultural ideas of beauty (“The Little Birds Call This Beauty” by Xelha Weisman), the attraction of opposites (“Synergy2” by John Trautwein), inner healing (“In Vision” by Natasha Harrell) and the debate over health care (“The Haves and the Have Nots” by Leanne Nettles.)
Some 55 dancers from HSU and the local community will participate. The student choreographers are: Julia Giardino, Natasha Harrell, Jessica Manuel, Leanne Sutton Nettles, Suzy Sciancalepore, Jackie Silva, John Trautwein and Xelha Weisman. Faculty choreographers are Erin Fernandez, Linda Maxwell and Jeff O’Connor.
The Motion Collage HSU dance concert is presented for one weekend only: Thursday through Saturday April 15-17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday April 18 at 2 pm in the Van Duzer Theatre on HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $10, $8 children and seniors, with a limited number of free seats for HSU students at each performance, from the HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Presented by the HSU Department of Theatre, Film & Dance. http://HSUStage.blogspot.com.