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Spring Dance Concerts Feature Best of Ballet and Jazz
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he School of Art Annual Spring Dance Concerts will be held on Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m. in Wellin Hall, Hamilton College. Guest choreographer Larry Keigwin has created a new work, Pivot Step, to celebrate Nancy Long’s 30 years as Director of the Dance Program. Amanda Thomas, Trevor Jones, Elizabeth Andrews, Angela Mia Belmonte, and Hannah Straney travelled to New York City to learn this piece which will be presented at each performance.
final movement of Down to the River will also be performed as an encore on the Ballet Program. This year Kathy Ryan will premiere two new works: Rock Me Amadeus, a whimsical tap dance with a twist on classical music featuring 23 dancers dressed in period costumes complete with Mozart-style; and The Rhythm Divine reminiscent of a timeless Parisian Bistro, danced by the select senior ensemble. An audience favorite, I Like Mike, features a record number of highly talented young dancers, 54 in all, who will perform to the music of Michael Jackson in a fast-paced and entertaining piece. The Saturday night and Sunday matinee repertory program opens with reconstructions of two short ballets: “Raymonda Variations” performed by twelve dancers in elegant white and gold tutus has been staged by Lynn Bollana and Nancy Long after the choreography of Marius Petipa. Graduation Ball staged after David Lichine is a wildly entertaining story ballet about the escapades of young women and men meeting for the first time at a ball. Guest dancer Nik Allen will partner alternately Hannah Straney and Elizabeth Andrews in the lead Pas De Deux. A bold and flirtatious girl in outrageous pigtails, danced by Anna McEvoy-Melo, captures the attention of all the cadets. In the end, however, the Headmistress and Head Master appear to have had the most fun of the evening.
Keigwin is known as one of the hottest young choreographers in New York City and his company has received accolades for his fresh, edgy and humorous take on modern dance. The Jazz Down to the River choreography by Program on Thursday and Friday will fea- Kathy Ryan. Dancers clockwise from top: Hannah Straney, Angela Mia ture Kathy Ryan’s glorious celebration, Belmonte, Elizabeth Andrews Down to the River, with thirty dancers in Elfrida and the Pig, an adaptation of a children’s book will appeal to swirling skirts and set to a collection of spirituals and songs of the audiences of all ages. The young Elfrida, portrayed alternately by south. The graduating seniors, Elizabeth Andrews, Brianna Aponte, Isabella Fulop and Sara Zarnoch is a serious child who goes on an Angela Mia Belmonte, Cassie Bushey, Maria Panuccio, Hannah adventure one night with her friend the Pig. Straney, and Margot Rankins-Burd will join hands in a compelling rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot for their final performances. The
Tickets are $8 and can be obtained at the dance studio or at the door. For information contact the School of Art, 797-8260 or the dance studio, 797-0000 ext. 2208.
Graduation Ball staged by Nancy Long, Lynn Bollana after David Lichine Dancers from left: Angela Mia Belmonte, Hannah Straney, Elizabeth Andrews, Nik Allen, Anna McEvoy-Melo