The spring dance concert centers around one theme—community, explains Director and Dance Professor Kyleigh Brine. “In a world that has recently felt fractured, I’ve come to realize that in times like these, turning to art and community is one way we can navigate the challenges around us. Dance, in its purest form, has the power to change lives, build bridges, and foster meaningful connections.”
In addition to students and faculty as choreographers and performers, the concert will feature community members from Ferndale Dance Academy, North Coast Dance, and Trillium Dance Studios.
“It has been such a rewarding experience to witness this collaboration grow so organically this semester,” says Brine. “Everyone involved in this concert has poured their hearts into this performance, and I have no doubt you will feel that passion in every movement,” Brine says.
Performances range from contemporary ballet to flamenco, influenced by grief, the natural world, and more.
as the Land breathes, choreographed by student choreographer Miriam Allen, is a modern ballet piece that weaves together a dialogue between humanity and nature. The story opens in a misty field at dawn, golden sunbeams spill across the earth, awakening the land with quiet warmth as the dancers move in harmony with their surroundings, their bodies echoing the rhythms of the natural world. As the movement builds, unseen forces ripple through them, testing the fragile balance between unity and separation, serenity and discord.
Te Quiero, choreographed by student choreographer Gabrielle Jones, is a tap piece with flamenco influence in honor of her abuela’s adventure of finding community after leaving her small hometown in Spain. The blend of tap footwork with flamenco arms is meant to symbolize the necessary adaptation to a new culture without leaving your home behind. The intensity and flow of the piece are meant to mirror the ups and downs of navigating new friendships in a new country.
The Spaces Between Us, choreographed by student choreographer Makena Martin, is a contemporary piece born from personal loss and the journey that followed. This is a continuation of her fall work and explores the significance of human connection in the face of change and grief. Each dancer is on their own path, navigating personal emotions and evolving intentions. Through movement and shared moments, they explore the balance between solitude and togetherness, working to embrace their newfound perspective on life.
Storyteller, choreographed by Dance Instructor Shoshanna, is a piece set to music created by Bay Area musicians Shoshanna has known and collaborated with for many years. It is a conversational interplay between musicians, dancers and the music, and between the dancers. The voluminous veils are the stories we tell, and the dancers are the dreamers of dreams and the tellers of stories that swirl, sway, and swell.
The Twins, choreographed by Dance Instructor Jandy Bergmann, is a contemporary dance inspired by the choreographer’s twin daughters. In some cultures, twins are seen as ominous, and in others they are seen as auspicious. Twins in mythology are often cast as two halves of the same whole, powerful figures sharing a mystical bond deeper than that of ordinary siblings or seen as fierce rivals.
Beneath the Canopy, The River Speaks, choreographed by Brine, is a contemporary dance suite composed of five pieces inspired by the rivers of Humboldt County. The movements reflect the various stages of a river’s journey, with individual pieces titled Headwaters, Channel, Riverbank, and Mouth. This performance will be featured again in collaboration with Global Water Dances, a biannual multinational event that brings together choreographers from around the world to create original works centered on local water sources, fostering a global connection between performers and audiences.
Life Goes On, choreographed by Dance Instructor Linda Maxwell, is a contemporary-ballet dance using the music of the Beatles, exploring different aspects of life and the journey of life. This dance is a collaboration between Cal Poly Humboldt dancers and dancers from the North Coast Dance studio in Eureka. One dancer, Phoenix Jones, is both a dance major at the University and a company member at North Coast Dance.
Homecoming, choreographed by Dance Instructor Haylee Wolff, is a contemporary piece about the deep sense of connection to a place and people; essentially a feeling of being welcomed and accepted in a familiar and cherished place where you can be yourself without reservation. Wolff has recently returned home to Humboldt, and this piece has been a wonderful outlet that represents her own sense of belonging and love for the dance community here in “Homeboldt.”
Get a Move On!, choreographed by guest choreographer Laura East, is a Jazz piece inspired by the relentless pace of New York City and its urban landscape. Much of the movement is animated by body language reminiscent of comedic stars from the silent film era. The dance plays with our ideas of never having enough time and hints that perhaps the pressure to rush is ultimately absurd.
Tickets are $13 General, $8 Students/Seniors, and free for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. To purchase tickets, visit tickets.humboldt.edu/dance-music-and-theatre
For more information, visit Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music & Theatre, (707) 826-3566, dance@humboldt.edu.