File - Michigan Dance Council

Newsletter 68:
Winter 2015
People Dancing, “Snow.” Dancers pictured: Rebecca Zahm, Jessica Joy Wise, Christina Sears-Etter,
MICHIGAN DANCE FESTIVAL — OCTOBER
CO-HOST
HOPE COLLEGE, HOLLAND MI
Aisha Darnell. 12
Photo:—
People
Dancing.
From the President’s Desk
Happy New Year!
2015 marks the twentieth anniversary of the incorporation of the Michigan Dance Council. Our story begins in the spring of 1994,
when a call was made to the Michigan dance community to discuss the idea of forming a “dance council.” That seminal gathering of
dancers and dance educators in Ann Arbor, Michigan was the impetus to create a member–based dance organization that would
become the Michigan Dance Council, a community service organization that then, as now, embraces the entire Michigan arts
community. For twenty years, MDC has served as an incubator for the arts, bringing together people, young and old, from across the
state, through festivals, artist and museum collaborations, and low-cost arts programming and performances.
This May, over 110 high school-age dancers performed at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival before audiences ranging from 500 to
1500 people. There, Karen Mills Jennings, a longstanding and well-respected chair of the Dance Division of the Flint School of the
Performing Arts, was awarded the 2014 Touchstone Dance Teacher of the Year Award. Days later, the vivacious and dynamic Nicole
Kaplan joined MDC as our first Executive Director, bringing a whole new wave of initiatives and projects to the Michigan Arts
community. She worked tirelessly to bring onto the board new members from around the state - Glenn Del Vecchio, Executive
Director of Grand Rapids Ballet; Christina De Roos, Deputy Director of Kresge Arts in Detroit; Karen Prall from Wayne State
University and the Detroit dance community; Kirsten Harvey from Western Michigan University, and others – and building upon
partnerships with such organizations as ArtLabJ and the Detroit City Dance Festival and the University Musical Society.
(continued on page 2)
New 2014 MDC Member Benefits!
Alliance Partner Ticket Discounts
• Detroit Opera House: Master Class Free w/Ticket to Corresponding
Performance. Pre-register at [email protected] or 313-237-3251
o Jan 31: Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. 11:00am.
• Macomb Center for the Performing Arts: $25 for MDC Members When
Purchasing in Person or By Phone (586-286-2222)
o Jan 11: Russian National Ballet Theatre--Cinderella. 3:00pm.
o Feb 8: Ballroom with a Twist. 3:00pm.
o Mar 27-28: Guys and Dolls. 3/27 7:30pm, 3/28 2pm & 7pm.
o Apr 12: The Stepcrew. 3:00pm.
• Music Hall Center for Performing Arts: $20 ticket (inclusive of all fees)
to MDC members. Balcony or best available, at Music Hall’s discretion.
o Mar 21: 313 to the 312-Choreography Expo. 8pm.
o Apr 17: Jessica Lang Dance. 8pm.
• University Musical Society: 20% off (code MICHIGANDANCE)
o Mar 14-15: Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion. Power Center, Ann Arbor
• Wharton Center for Performing Arts: Visit whartoncenter.com/promo
and enter promo code “MDC” for 30% off. Offer while supplies last.
o Mar 21: Moscow City Ballet--Swan Lake. 8pm.
o Apr 16: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. 7:30pm.
In This Issue
Message from the President ................................. 1
MDC Alliance Partner Discounts ............................ 1
Save the Date .................................................... 2
RAD Fest 2015 ................................................... 3
Free Classes from University Musical Society .......... 3
People Dancing Anniversary ................................. 5
Ballet Chelsea .................................................... 5
DDCdances Anniversary ....................................... 5
Dance Class Opportunities ................................... 5
Calendar of Events .............................................. 7
MDC Executive Board
MDC
Executive
Board
President:
Robin Wilson
President:
Robin Wilson
Vice President,
Regional Reps: Kellie Lajiness
Vice
President,Gregory
Regional Patterson
Reps: Kellie Lajiness
Secretary:
Secretary:
Gregory
Patterson
Treasurer: Denise
M. Allen
Treasurer: Susanna Michaels (interim)
Board: Matthew Farmer, Susan Harrigan, Melissa Poli, Julie
MDC Board-at-Large
Powell, Samantha Shelton, Titos Sompas, Michael WoodberrySudha Chandrashekar, Glenn del Vecchio,
Means
Christina deRoos, Kirsten Harvey, Elizabeth
Kattner-Ulrich,
Mazzola, Melissa Poli, Karen
MDC
AdvisoryDon
Board
Prall,
Christina Sears-Etter,
Titos Sompa,
Jennifer
Sudha
Chandrashekar,
Maxine DeBruyn,
Lora Frankel,
Carol
Stallings,
Woodberry-Means
Halsted,
AndyMichael
Poli
MDC Advisory
Council
Michigan
Youth Arts
Festival Coordinator
Susan
Harrigan,
[email protected]
Maxine
DeBruyn,
Lora Frankel, Carol Halsted,
Susan Harrigan, Susanna Michaels, Eva Powers
Accounts/Membership Manager
MDC Executive Director
Anne Trombley
Nicole Kaplan
Regional Representatives
DOWNRIVER
• Kellie M. Lajiness
[email protected]
FLINT/THUMB AREA
• Karen Jennings,
[email protected]
GRAND RAPIDS
• Carrie Brueck Morris
[email protected]
HILLSDALE
• Holly Hobbs
[email protected]
HOLLAND
• Nicole Flinn
[email protected]
KALAMAZOO BERRIEN/CASS
• Cindy Murray Bosma
[email protected]
LANSING AREA
• Elzbieta Alabuszew-Kutek
[email protected]
MIDLAND/SAGINAW
• Meagan Bublitz
[email protected]
• Susie Harrigan
[email protected]
METRO DETROIT
• Don Mazzola
[email protected]
• Melissa Poli
[email protected]
NORTH/TRAVERSE CITY AREA
• Tom Morrell
[email protected]
UPPER PENINSULA
• Dianna George
[email protected]
• Kathrine Trempe
[email protected]
Editor’s Note.
To contribute your articles,
advertisements, performance
reviews, calendar listings,
classes, photos, auditions,
research, suggestions, or
anything else, send to:
Nathalie Winans
newsletter @ michigandance.org
From the President’s Desk, Cont’d.
Choreographic submissions for the annual Maggie Allesee Choreography award
grew 200 percent and a celebrated panel of judges from the University Musical
Society, Wayne State University, the Detroit dance community and the
University of Michigan adjudicated the choreographic works for that award,
selecting the solo Pearls by Marcus White as the 2014 winner. The Summer
Scholarship audition taught by ArtLabJ’s Joori Jung brought in scores of young
dancers in the hopes of winning a summer scholarship from Interlochen Arts
Academy, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Oakland University’s Great Lakes Dance
Festival, Wayne State University’s Complexions Contemporary Dance
Intensive, University of Michigan’s MPulse Dance Institute, Flint School of the
Performing Arts, the Detroit City Dance Festival and ArtLabJ’s Summer
Intensive. Our online presence grew exponentially (Facebook, Weebly, &
Twitter), with new online forms and membership; and the launch of our new
Website is right around the corner.
But as was the case of each of us, the year 2014 had its highs and its lows.
The unfortunate deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner shocked the nation.
As we begin this New Year, it is my prayer that the Michigan Dance Council be
a force for change, a force for healing and for connection across cultural, class,
ethnic, political, and racial divisions throughout the State of Michigan. The Arts
are more than Entertainment or an outlet that serves the “talented few” and
their fans. The Arts are our human birthright and key to the creative force that
lives in all of us – a creative force that is at the heart of ALL Change. Who
knows this better than dancers, whose very art form relies upon the everchanging body navigating through an ever-changing world? We ALL have
bodies - Bodies that “danced” in the womb before we even took our first
breath, and that stay with us until we take our last one; Bodies that never
forget and yet always regenerate.
So as MDC moves into its twentieth year, our mission is all the more relevant –
for it is the Arts that have the power to move beyond divisions and build
bridges to connect and generate new and positive forces across those lines. It
is DANCE, arguably the “earliest” art form, that can be part of that
regenerative force and it’s my hope and prayer that MDC can be part of the
solution. Let’s make sure that it’s not too late.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Wilson
MDC Board President
Save the Date!
February 15: Michigan Youth Arts Festival Adjudications at
Flint Institute of Music
February 22: National Honor Society for Dance Arts
Achievement Award Deadline
(online packets available NOW at http://www.ndeo.org/nhsdap)
March 30: Ann Zirulnik $200 Scholarship Deadline
(For High School Students)
March 30: Gay Delanghe $500 Scholarship Deadline
(For College/University Students)
May 1: Maggie Allesee Choreography Award Application
Deadline
May 7-9: Michigan Youth Arts Festival
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
October 24: Michigan Dance Festival
Location TBD
“Thirst”, choreographed by PeggyChoy. Dancers, L to R: Johari Mayfield, Coral Dolphin, Ai Ikeda, Orlando Hunter, and Edgar Eguia. Photo: JP Yim.
Saturday performances). Master classes are $10 per class. All
other events are free. To order tickets, register for master
classes, and view the concert line-ups, please visit
www.midwestradfest.org.
6th Annual Midwest Regional
Alternative Dance Festival
KALAMAZOO: Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers presents the
sixth annual Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RAD
Fest) at the Wellspring Theater in the Epic Center on March 1922. RAD Fest will feature over 60 choreographers and 250
performers in five different live performances, six master
classes, a dance for the camera film series, an interactive
design installation, discussion panels, and networking events.
The four-day festival will present 39 live performance works in
five different concerts at The Wellspring Theater in The Epic
Center: evening concerts on Fri. March 20, and Sat. March 21,
at 7:30pm & 9pm, and a family-friendly Sunday matinee
featuring young dancers on Sun. March 22, at 3pm. Each
concert will feature seven to 10 original works by
choreographers and improvisors from across the country.
The festival will also feature a Film in the Atrium series and an
interactive design installation. Film in the Atrium is a free event
featuring 10 different dance for the camera choreographers.
Five films will run on Fri. March 20 and Sat. March 21 in a
continual loop from 6:30pm-7:30pm, 8:30pm-9pm, and 10pm10:30pm in the 2nd floor atrium of The Epic Center.
RAD Fest will offer master classes to festival participants and
the community. Visiting artists will teach the classes on Fri.
March 20 at 2pm; Sat. March 21 at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm; and
youth master classes on Sun. March 22, at 10am and 12pm.
“We are excited and very honored to offer diverse instruction
from such a distinguished group of artists,” said Miller.
Two other free-of-charge community events include Dance Talk,
a mediated discussion panel with visiting artists, covering topics
like audience development and the creative process on Sat.
March, 21 at 4pm in the 2nd floor atrium of The Epic Center,
and an After-Glow party at a local restaurant/bar providing
discounts on food and drinks on Sat. March 21 at 10pm.
Tickets for the Midwest RAD Fest are $12/performance,
$20/evening pass (both of the evening performances on either
March 20 or 21), and $35/festival pass (includes all Friday and
www.michigandance.org
University Musical Society Offers
Free Classes
ANN ARBOR: The University Musical Society (UMS) is offering
two free community workshop series in winter 2015 for dance
enthusiasts and those curious about the genre.
UMS NIGHT SCHOOL
UMS Night School is a six-session “mini-course” offered by UMS
and taught by U-M professors and other guests. Starting
February 2, UMS Night School will be held Mondays at 7 pm in
the U-M Alumni Center (200 Fletcher St.). Hosted by Clare
Croft, assistant professor of dance at the University of Michigan,
this winter’s UMS Night School will feature 90-minute classes
that combine conversation, lecture, and interactive exercises
focused on dance. UMS Night School is free and no preregistration is required; interested participants may attend just
one session or attend them all.
YOU CAN DANCE WORKSHOPS WITH DANCE COMPANY
MEMBERS
During the second half of the 14/15 season, UMS presents four
world-renowned dance companies: Compagnie Marie Chouinard
(1/23), Trisha Brown Dance Company (2/21-22), Kyle
Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion (3/13-14), and the Lyon Opera
Ballet (4/24-26). UMS You Can Dance workshops bring dancers
from each of these companies to the Ann Arbor Y (400 W.
Washington St.) for a hands-on exploration of the company’s
movement style. No dance training or experience is necessary
and all levels, ages 13+ are welcome. The You Can Dance
workshops are free but offered on a first come, first served
basis until the studio reaches capacity; sign up begins 45
minutes prior to the class at the YMCA front desk. Participants
do not have to be Y members to attend; interested community
members can attend all four workshops or just those that
interest them.
Page 3
Winter 2015
People Dancing Celebrates 30th Year
ANN ARBOR: This year, People Dancing celebrates its 30th year
providing performances, classes, and opportunities for dancers both
inside and outside Michigan. On February 22, People Dancing will
perform in a special evening of dance, “The Fertile Ground
Showcase,” presented by Dance Entropy Inc. at Green Space Studio
in Queens, New York City.
For those who can’t make it to New York, People Dancing will
perform an exclusive in-studio preview of “Snows and Birches” on
February 14 at Arts in Motion Dance Studio in Ann Arbor. Admission
is by donation, with a suggested donation of $5. People Dancing will
reprise this performance at its 30th Anniversary Concert, Thrive!, on
August 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, People Dancing is holding a special 30th Anniversary
Calendar Sale until March. This professionally produced art calendar
of People Dancing artists is a gift to donors of $45 or more. The
proceeds help support the company’s day-to-day operations,
support for individual dancers, and its educational program. For
more information on this and other People Dancing programs,
please contact [email protected].
DDCdances founding members (L to R): Barbara Selinger, Sue Ellen
Darr. Paula Kramer, Anita Surma. Photo: Tom Kramer.
DDCdances Celebrates 35th Year
DETROIT: DDCdances celebrates its 35th season in 2015. This
milestone birthday includes a series of concerts and parties as well
as educational residencies and community events planned in venues
within the city of Detroit and metro area. The season will finish with
a celebration of dance and music as well as an after party on June
14 at Harmonie Park & The Carr Center in Detroit.
DDC blends tradition with innovation through dramatic
choreography and elegant dancers. Through its performances and
educational programs, DDC has touched audiences of all ages and
abilities throughout Michigan and beyond. During its 35th season
DDC will reflect on its roots, its present message, and the work of
future generations. Premieres of original contemporary
choreography by artistic director Barbara Selinger and others,
collaborations with area artists, and the production of dances by
emerging choreographers will be shared this season. DDC will also
honor its alumni and numerous artists who have graced the stage in
performances and have contributed their artistry to the company.
Ballet Chelsea dancers in “Sleeping Beauty.” Photo: Ballet Chelsea.
Ballet Chelsea To Perform
Sleeping Beauty
Dance Class Opportunities
This Winter and Spring
CHELSEA: Ballet Chelsea will present Sleeping Beauty on Friday,
March 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m. at the Chelsea
High School Performing Arts Complex located at 740 N. Freer Road
in Chelsea. This full-length, narrated ballet is family-friendly.
Sleeping Beauty is a full-length, narrated classical ballet performed
in three acts with a prologue. With music by Peter Ilyich
Tchaikovsky, choreography is by Ballet Chelsea Artistic Director
Wendi DuBois, after Marius Petipa.
Soma Dance in Ann Arbor
People Dancing offers Soma Dance classes on Saturdays from
4:30-6 pm. 1/10, 1/24, 2/14, 2/28, 3/14, 3/28, 4/11, 4/25, 5/9,
5/30, and 6/13. Register for all: $176.00. Drop in: $17.50/class.
Arts in Motion Dance Studio, 6175 Jackson Rd, Ste B, Ann Arbor.
Discounts for Current Company Members!
Assigned seating tickets will be available March 1, 2105, for
purchase online at www.balletchelsea.org, at the Ballet Chelsea
Studio, or at the door.
Ballet Chelsea is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization which provides
professional-level dance training to young dance students through
performance opportunities, enrichment activities, master classes,
summer intensives and pre-professional studies. Ballet Chelsea is
supported by the Wilkinson Foundation, the Worthington Family
Foundation and the Chelsea Wellness Foundation. For additional
information, visit www.balletchelsea.org.
www.michigandance.org
Adult Ballet in Metro Detroit
Ballet Technique Classes for Adults, mornings and evenings
through June. Suzanne Hawkins, Instructor. Locations throughout
Metro Detroit. Info at [email protected],
suzannehawkinsballetworkshop.com.
Page 5
Classes on Dance as a Genre in Ann Arbor
University Musical Society Night School is offering two FREE
classes for community members to learn more about dance as a
genre: UMS Night School (starts Monday, February 2 - six
sessions) and You Can Dance (starts 1/24 - four sessions). For
more information, contact Truly Render at 734.647.4020 or
[email protected]. See article on Page 3.
Winter 2015
Calendar of Events
Mar 19-22: Detroit Opera House presents Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater. 7:30pm. Info: motopera.org.
January
Jan 19: Hope College Dance Dept holds Distinguished Artist
Scholarship Auditions. Info: 616.395.7700 or [email protected].
Mar 20: Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers present RAD Festival.
Wellspring Theatre, Kalamazoo. Info: wellspringdance.org.
Jan 22-24: Oakland University Department of Dance presents The
DDA Concert: Detroit Dance Artists Showcase. 7:30pm, Varner Hall.
Mar 21: Music Hall presents 313 to the 312-Choreography Expo. 8pm,
Music Hall, Detroit. Info: musichall.org.
Jan 30-Feb 1: Wayne State University Dept of Dance presents
Dance Workshop Showcase. Allesee Dance Theatre, Detroit.
Mar 21: Moscow City Ballet presents Swan Lake. 8pm, Wharton
Center, East Lansing. Info: whartoncenter.com.
Jan 31: Eisenhower Dance: presents The Light Show. 7:30pm, Detroit
Opera House. Info: motopera.org.
Mar 24-29: Detroit Contemporary presents Experience the Arts
featuring DDCdances, Kristi Faulkner Dance & Jo Powers. Info:
facebook.com/detroitcontemporary.
February
Mar 27-28: Ballet Chelsea presents Sleeping Beauty. Chelsea High
School Performing Arts Complex, Info & tickets: www.balletchelsea.org.
Feb 5-8: University of Michigan Dance Dept presents Currents &
Crossings. Power Center for the Arts, Ann Arbor. Info:
www.music.umich.edu/performances_events/.
Mar 27-28: Macomb Center for Performing Arts presents Guys and
Dolls. Info: www.MacombCenter.com.
Feb 6-8, 13-15: Grand Rapids Ballet presents Swan Lake. Peter
Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids. Info: grballet.com.
Mar 27-28: Marygrove College Dance Dept presents The Beginnings.
3/27 7:30pm, 3/28 2pm & 7:30pm. Info: dance.marygrove.edu.
Feb 8: Macomb Center for Performing Arts presents Ballroom with a
Twist. 3pm. Info: www.MacombCenter.com.
Feb 13: Grand Valley State University holds auditions. Info:
www.gvsu.edu/dance.
Feb 13: Marygrove College Dance Dept holds Entrance & Scholarship
Auditions. 10am. Info: dance.marygrove.edu/audition.html.
Feb 13, 16: Hope College Dance Dept holds Scholarship Auditions.
Recipients announced May 2. Info: 616.395.7700, [email protected].
Mar 28: MoreDances Contemporary Dance Co. presents Spring
Dances. 6-8pm, BoConcept, 670 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham. Info:
(586) 899-2629.
April
Apr 11-12: Grand Valley State University presents Spring Dance
Concert. 4/11 7pm, 4/12 2pm, Armstrong Theatre, Allendale.
Apr 12: Macomb Center for Performing Arts presents The Stepcrew.
3pm. Info: www.MacombCenter.com.
Feb 14: People Dancing presents Snows and Birches. 5:30pm, Arts in
Motion Dance Studio, Ann Arbor. Suggested donation $5. Info:
[email protected].
Apr 14-16: Michigan Youth Arts presents Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
Western Michigan University. Info: myaf.org.
Feb 14-15: Wayne State University Dept of Dance presents To
Sangana In Concert. 7pm 2/14; 2pm 2/15; Allesee Dance Theatre.
Apr 16-19: Grand Rapids Ballet presents Movemedia. Peter Martin
Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids. Info: grballet.com.
Feb 14-21: Univ. Musical Society presents Compagnie Non Nova:
Prelude to Afternoon of a Foehn. Skyline HS, Ann Arbor. Info: ums.org.
Apr 16: Wharton Center presents Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. 7:30pm.
Apr 17: Artlab J presents Detroit Dance Race 14. Info: artlabj.com.
Feb 19-20: The Yellow Barn presents Distracted Meditations Under
Radio-Frequency Interference. Info: ouryellowbarn.com.
Feb 20-21: Artlab J presents Detroit Dance Race 14. Info: artlabj.com.
Apr 17: Eisenhower Dance presents Rite of Spring & Other Dances.
8pm, Macomb Center for Performing Arts. $25 tickets for MDC members.
Apr 17-18: Hope College Dance Dept presents Dow Student Dance
Showcase. Info: [email protected].
Feb 20-21: Marygrove College Dance Dept presents Cinderella
through the Kaleidoscope. 7:30pm. Info: dance.marygrove.edu.
Apr 17: Music Hall presents Jessica Lang Dance. 8pm, Music Hall,
Detroit. Info: musichall.org.
Feb 21-22: University Musical Society presents Trisha Brown Dance
Co. 8pm 2/21; 2pm 2/22; Power Center, Ann Arbor. Info: ums.org.
Apr 18: Wharton Center presents Ira Glass: Three Acts, Two Dancers,
One Radio Host. 7:30pm. Info: whartoncenter.com.
Feb 27-28, Mar 5-7: Hope College Dance Dept presents Dance 41.
7:30pm, Knickerbocker Theatre. Info: [email protected].
Apr 20-21: Hope College Dance Dept presents Knickerbocker Student
Dance Showcase. Info: [email protected].
March
Mar 7, 21: Grand Rapids Ballet Jr Co. presents Who am I? A Butterfly
Ballet. Peter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids. Info: grballet.com.
Apr 24: DDCdances presents DDC 35th ANNIV DanceFest. 7:30pm,
Wallace Smith Theatre, Oakland Comm. College. Info: ddcdances.org.
Mar 12-13: Wayne State Dept of Dance presents Spring Dance
Concert: 7:30pm, Bonstelle Theatre, 3414 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
Apr 24: Marygrove College Dance Dept holds Entrance & Scholarship
Auditions. 4pm. Info: http://dance.marygrove.edu/audition.html.
Mar 13-15: Grand Rapids Ballet presents Beethoven and Movemedia.
Peter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids. Info: grballet.com.
Apr 24-26: Marygrove College Dance Dept presents Follow My Lead.
Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2pm & 7:30pm, Sun 4pm. Info: dance.marygrove.edu.
Mar 13: Grand Valley State University holds auditions. Info:
www.gvsu.edu/dance.
Apr 26: People Dancing presents Arts in Motion Dance Concert. 1pm,
Saline High School. Info: peopledancing.org.
Mar 14-15: University Musical Society presents Kyle Abraham /
Abraham.In.Motion. Power Center, Ann Arbor. Info: ums.org.
Apr 27: Wayne State Dept of Dance presents BS/BFA Capstone
Showings. 7:30pm, Allesee Dance Theatre, Detroit.
www.michigandance.org
Page 7
Winter 2015
P.O. Box 2934
Farmington Hills, MI 48333
University and College Dancers!
Interested in learning more about MDC? Consider becoming a volunteer intern or student liaison between your
school and MDC. What sorts of projects or initiatives would you like the MDC to create or sustain? Does your
school have a Dance Club, Orchesis or Dance Student Association?
Looking to beef up your resume during the 2014-2015 school year? Many high schools and colleges give credit
for field study and community outreach.