Nevada Union High School Theatrical Dance presents two performances of Fall for Dance 2016: Friday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m., and a matinee on Saturday, November 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Don Baggett Theatre, located at 11761 Ridge Road, Grass Valley.
Fall for Dance showcases the talents of beginning, intermediate, and advanced dance students performing a variety of dance styles. The show opens with a restaging of three pieces from the program’s production last spring, Dancing Into the Woods, including “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Giants in the Sky,” and “Finale,” all in the musical theatre genre. The show progresses with a contemporary ballet piece staged by guest choreographer, Heather Sorter, a ballet director and studio owner from Arcata, California.
N.U. Dance Director, Courtney Wadman, has staged two pieces connecting dance to other subject areas, including a math-inspired “Equations” piece that spells out mathematical equations through movement and incorporates geometric shapes for staging, set to music by Hans Zimmer, as well as a science-inspired piece titled “Elements,” connecting the four elements to energy, space and time – the elements of choreography. Mrs. Wadman also taught and staged a social justice piece titled “Break the Chain,” part of the 1 Billion Rising campaign, the biggest mass action campaign to end violence against women in human history. Communities around the world have adapted, localized and completely re-envisioned the original choreography by Debbie Allen, in many places integrating the dance into their cultures so that it remains current and relevant. A short video will be previewed at Fall for Dance of a 1 Billion Rising campaign event from San Francisco, followed by a performance of dance students from all levels at N.U.
Fall for Dance features the talents of several guest choreographers who taught master classes and choreography to the Nevada Union Theatrical Dance program this semester. N.U. alumna Alison Clancy, who lives in New York and dances professionally at the Met Opera, set a piece for this show using original music by cellist Chris Lancaster. Professional choreographer Chelsea Asman, an MFA candidate and dance teacher from UC Irvine, set a beautiful modern dance piece using music visualization of percussion instruments. N.U. Theatrical Dance Assistant Director, Gaia Weiss, choreographed an upbeat hip hop piece to “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” and local dance teacher Cassie McAlister created a lyrical dance for the intermediate dance class. Alumnus Mason Teichert, who is currently a dance major living in Santa Barbara, taught a contemporary jazz dance. Senior advanced dancer Haley See has choreographed one of the dances for N.U.’s Hip Hop Crew for her senior project this year, and the finale to Fall for Dance incorporates the movements and music from this year’s National Dance Day 2016, created by the producers of the hit show So You Think You Can Dance.
Audience members of all ages will undoubtedly enjoy the variety and versatility in these dances performed by Nevada Union’s award-winning dance program. Last month, the N.U. Performance Ensemble was selected to perform several pieces at Disney’s California Adventure theme park, and next month they will participate in the annual Dance Tour to several local elementary and middle schools in Nevada County, sharing their passion for dance through community outreach. In February, the dance program will present the 16th annual Student Choreography Showcase, and their annual May Show for 2017 will be a Tribute to Michael Jackson.
Tickets for Fall for Dance are available online, and all seating is reserved. Ticket prices are $10, $12, or $15, depending on seating location. Tickets will also be on sale in the Don Baggett Theatre lobby on Monday through Thursday, November 14th to 17th from 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, contact the N.U. Theatrical Dance program at (530) 273-4431 extension 2103.