Contra Costa School of Performing Arts Department of Dance February 24, 2019 |
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Greetings from the SPA Dance Department. Nearly two months into the new year, our 2nd semester is starting off strong. Our dance majors are working with new faculty and guest artists, completed a successful Winter Intensive in Carmel Valley, and have begun rehearsals for our Spring Showcase. There are some exciting things in the works, including a mid-semester showing, the acquisition of new repertoire, and guest teaching by a former SPA dance major. We are definitely building momentum and looking forward to a great 2nd half of the year. As always, thank you for your support and please reach out with questions. |
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High School Winter Intensive |
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Thank you to guest artists Gregory Dawson and Isaiah Bindel for joining us on our Winter Intensive. It was a challenging, eye-opening, stamina-building weekend, and I am so proud of our dancers for their hard work, professionalism, and perseverance. Mr. Dawson will be visiting SPA over the next two weeks to rehearse the choreography he set on our students in Carmel Valley. I am working to arrange an in-studio showing in late March, which will include Mr. Dawson's work, as well as a preview of our Spring Showcase. Stay tuned for more details. |
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SPA Dance Program Acquires Two Donald McKayle Works |
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I am thrilled to announce that the Donald McKayle Legacy recently granted our department permission to perform two McKayle works for our Spring Showcase. Mr. McKayle was a prolific modern dancer and choreographer known for creating socially conscious works during the 20th and 21st century. As an undergraduate at UC Irvine, I had the pleasure of working with Mr. McKayle and dancing for his performing ensemble. It is a privilege to now be setting his works on the next generation of dancers, and I consider it a great honor to bring his choreography to our school and community. This is a great step forward for SPA's Dance Department, and it will help us acquire important repertoire in the future. If you would like to help support this important milestone, a donation to the cost of choreographic rights would be greatly appreciated. Please email or speak with me if interested. |
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National Dance Education Organization I am happy to announce that SPA's Dance Department is now a member of the National Dance Education Organization, with a Junior Chapter for middle school students and a Secondary Chapter for our high school dancers. The NDEO is a vast organization, but of note is their National Honor Society for Dance Arts and the Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award for Juniors and Seniors. I encourage you to check out their website here, and I will also be speaking with students about how to apply for the Honors Society and the annual NHSDA Award. |
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Milissa Payne Bradley has been invited to present a work at New York's 92Y for Harkness Dance Center's "Dig Dance" in April. Among a cohort of six up-and-coming choreographers, Payne-Bradley will be the only West Coast choreographer represented. More info about the event here. Congratulations again Milissa! |
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Bianca Cabrera will be performing in "The Wait Room" with Flyaway Productions April 19 - 27 in San Francisco. Created in partnership with Essie Justice Group, "The Wait Room" is a performance installation that exposes the physical, psychic, and emotional burden of incarceration for women with imprisoned loved ones. More info here. |
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Former SPA dance major Sierra Sanders will be guest teaching our middle school students in March. Sierra is attending the Joffrey Ballet Trainee program in Texas and is excited to return to SPA to share her passion for dance. We are thrilled to have Sierra back on campus and are eager to hear about her experience at Joffrey. |
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DonorsChoose.org A big, heartfelt thank you to all of our donors who helped us reach our goal! We received our new yoga mats last week and students cannot wait to put them to use. If you are looking for a way to support the Dance Department, Donorschoose is always a great way to help us out. Even when we do not have an immediate need, your contributions will go towards a future project. Please consider donating to our classroom here. |
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Parent Observation Parent observation will take place May 14 - 17. More detailed information will be posted on our web page shortly. |
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Summer Intensives I will be posting a summer study guide on our new web page, but below are some suggestions for local summer intensives. Alonzo King LINES Ballet (SF) ODC Dance Commons (SF) Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (Berkeley) Contra Costa Ballet Centre (Walnut Creek) Berkeley Ballet Theater (Berkeley) Post:ballet (Berkeley) Center for Community Arts (Walnut Creek; in partnership with Diablo Ballet) FACT/SF (SF) |
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Upcoming Community Performances |
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Akram Khan: XENOS at Cal PerformancesA Cal Performances Co-commission British (by Bangladeshi descent) dancer, choreographer, and theater artist Akram Khan is revered for physically demanding, visually spellbinding solo productions which combine Indian kathak with modern dance in works of sublime storytelling. Seen here in an exclusive West Coast engagement, XENOS is Khan's final solo creation before his planned retirement as a performer. |
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Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at Cal PerformancesAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater Robert Battle, artistic director Masazumi Chaya, associate artistic director The revered Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater-which first visited Cal Performances 50 years ago in 1968-returns to Berkeley for its annual residency. |
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Dance Series 02After ten years as Choreographer-in-Residence, master dance maker Amy Seiwert returns to Smuin for its quarter-century celebration with a smashing world premiere featuring her signature choreography, described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "keeping founder Michael Smuin's legacy of unabashed showmanship alive." |
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Once Upon a Time - Diablo BalletMusic: Sections from George Gershwin's "American in Paris" and Benjamin Britten's "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" Choreography: Julia Adam Join Diablo Ballet on a fairytale adventure where you will meet "Cinderella", "Jack in the Beanstalk", "Snow White", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "The Little Mermaid" and more. |
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We Are On Instagram! A reminder that the Dance Department has its own instagram @cocospadance. Please follow us and spread the word! |
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