The Dance Theatre of Santa Fe will hold its spring dance event, Dance Gala 2011, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13 in Santa Fe College’s new Fine Arts Hall. The gala will be the first event held in the state-of-the-art facility since its completion earlier this month.
“It’s exciting,” said Artistic Director Rodney A. Brown, regarding what it’s like to organize the very first performance in the new hall. “There are things inside the building that we’re just figuring out how to work, so we’re having to negotiate all of that wonderfulness.”
Dance Gala 2011 features works by Brown, Santa Fe College dance faculty, students and guest artists. The performance includes a total of eight dances. Brown will premiere A Mercy, set to the music of composer/songwriters James Blake and Dictaphone. It’s a work of nine dancers that creates a poignant world in which the dancer moves through the questions of loss.
“Along with the other works, all these ingredients have combined to once again create a recipe for a highly entertaining and educational evening,” said Alora Haynes, chair of the Fine Arts department.
The evening’s event will also include DTSF performing Here and Gone, a newly commissioned work by guest choreographer Brian Brooks of Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre (of Chicago) alongside Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company’s Shonna Hickman-Matlock’s -Page 168-. Both Matlock and Brooks’ rich and textured works explore the notion of self-love and awakening, through contemporary dance.
SF students Dannielle Rivet and Elizabeth Snow will present Sunburns in Funny Places, a light and comical commentary on unexpected moments providing invaluable life lessons.
Other works created by SF faculty Jeanne Glogowski, Suzanne Barroso, and DTSF Assistant Director Melissa Canto will be included in the show.
Brown spoke highly of his working partnership with Canto.
“She is a godsend,” he said. “Much of the event’s organization is attributed to her. She has really gotten into the trenches with me. She has created a piece herself, called Recipes for Pie, and it’s one of the anchors of the performance and something we’re really excited about.”
The performance is free and open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated. The Fine Arts Hall fronts NW 83rd Street; the address is 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville, 32606.
For more information, contact Rodney Brown at 352-395-5674 or rodney.brown@sfcollege.edu.
Photo Credit: Dale Gunnoe Dancers: Dance Theatre of Santa Fe
CONTACT
- Rodney Brown, dance faculty and artistic director, 352-395-5674 or rodney.brown@sfcollege.edu.
- Julie Garrett, media relations, for assistance facilitating your story, 352-395-5430 or 352-870-2924 or julie.garrett@sfcollege.edu