Program - Faculty Dance Concert 2021

OCC FACULTY DANCE CONCERT 2021

Chaconne

(film)

First performed December 27, 1942 at the

Humphrey-Weidman Studio Theater, New York City

Choreographer: José Limón

Music: Chaconne from Partita #2 in D Minor for violin
Staging & Direction: Colin Connor

The Chaconne as a dance form originated in New Spain, now Mexico, as a robust and raucous dance. Bach employed the strict musical form of the Chaconne but enriched it with powerful emotional implications. Mr. Limón has tried to capture in his dance both the formal austerity and the profound feeling of the music.

Alfonso Fuentes   Amane Hirano

Ayaka Kanai   Ryo Matsushita   

Jacqueline Pierce

©1996, José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc. These performances of Chaconne, a Limón® Dance, are presented by arrangement with The José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc. and has been produced in accordance with the Limón Style® and Limón Technique® service standards established by The José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc. Limón®, Limón Style® and Limón Technique® are trade and service marks of The José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc. (All rights reserved)

The Last Days of McQueen 

Choreographer: Jose Costas 

Composer: Michael Nyman 

Inspired by the life of fashion designer Alexander McQueen

Ariel Alvarado   J.R. Becker-Gooseberry   

MiyuFujii   Yuto Kondo

Isabella LinsLervolino-Fernandez   

Ryo Matsushita   Natalie Reynold   

Teagan Robson   Esperanza Rollins

Ella Tracy   Grace Wells   Izzy Wright

TOSCA - living for love, dying for dignity

Choreographer: Francesco Core

Music: Vissid’arte by Giacomo Puccini

Singer: Maria Callas

Aoi Aihara

Secrets 

Choreographer: Amythyst Fritzler 

 Music: Joe Lawrence 

Costumes: Amythyst Fritzler and Autumn Lawrence 

J.R. Gooseberry   Yuto Kondo   

Sydnie Obergfell   Teagan Robson 

 Sydney Tanji   Ella Tracy   Grace Wells 

This dance was inspired by Post Secret created by Frank Warren in 2005.  Post Secret is a community mail art project that is still happening today.  People mail their secrets on homemade postcards to Frank and he will select and post some secrets on his website, in books or part of art exhibits.  Amythyst would also like to thank the dancers for their creative input in creating the dance. 

The following dance contains themes of an adult nature.

Toybox (excerpt)

Original Concept & Choreography (1998): Christine Baltes

Re-Creation (2008): Christine Baltes 

& Janell Burgess

Music: “Glorybox” by Portishead

Costuming: Tomo Swan

Janell Burgess

Originally created as a quartet, but staged many times as a solo work by Ms. Burgess, “Toybox” was the first work Ms. Baltes created for what would later evolve into the larger full-length ballet erotica. Complete with sets, chairs, stairwells, and chaise lounges, “Toybox” sets the scene of a seductive underground world. “Toybox” tastefully explores the “art of tease” while riding the undercurrent of rawness and uninhibited sexuality. The work presented today is the untouched original timeless choreography of Ms. Baltes. At one time, Ms. Baltes & Ms. Burgess considered turning the 30-minute ballet into a 1 woman show to tour. This concept still remains on the table….

The Target

Choreographer: Jose Costas

Music: Phillippe Cohen Solai, Christoph H. Muller, and Eduardo Makaroff

Aoi Aihara   J.R. Becker-Goosebery   

Kiara Kinghorn

David McMahan   Sydnie Obergfell

do not go gentle

Choreography: David McMahan

Composer: The Antlers

Isabella LinsLervolino-Fernandez   

Lauren Holmes   Sydney Tanji

Grace Wells   Izze Wright

Wahshani Baladi (I miss my country)

Choreographer: Angelika Nemeth

Music: Wahshani Baladi 

sung by Carole Samaha
Composition: Original by Mohammed Abdel Wahab; Adapted by Jean-Marie Riachi
Costumes: HLC New Look
Rehearsal Understudy: Gaëlle Bouteloup
Graphics: Tashia Hughes, Joe Lawrence

NahreenAref   Leilani Carinio   Tashia Hughes
Trisha Nguyen   Iris Z. Spector   OndriaVicencio

We are performing to a passionate song of yearning for one's homeland. Our dance is dedicated to all refugees, who due to fear of persecution, war, violence, or climate change, have been forced to flee their home.

Tango Interlude

Choreographer: Jose Costas

Music: Bajofondo Tango

Kiara Kinghorn   David McMahan

The Common Denominator of Rhythm

Choreography: Zachary Groenewold

Music: Liquid Soul

Alfonso Fuentes   J.R. Becker-Gooseberry   

Niki Khudaeva   Yuto Kondo   Ryo Matsushita

Ayumi Nishimura   Esperanza Rollins   

Sydney Tanji   Isabella Williams   

Momoka Yoshida

BIOGRAPHIES

JOSÉ LIMÓN (1908-1972) electrified the world with his dynamic masculine dancing and dramatic choreography. One of the 20^th century’s most important and influential dance makers, he spent his entire career pioneering a new art form and fighting for the recognition and establishment of the American Modern Dance. Born in Culiacán, Mexico in 1908, he immigrated to California in 1915, and in 1928 Limón came to New York and saw his first dance program. Limón enrolled in the dance school of Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman and, from 1930 - 1940, performed in works created by his teachers. In 1946, with Doris Humphrey as Artistic Director, Limón formed his own company. Over the following 25 years, he established himself and his company as one of the major forces of 20^th century dance. Limón was a key faculty member in The Juilliard School's Dance Division beginning in 1953 and continued choreographing until his death in 1972. Limón choreographed a total of seventy-four works, including TheMoor’s Pavane, Missa Brevis, There is a Time,The Traitor, and Psalm.

JOSÉ COSTAS began his dance training in his native Puerto Rico and was a principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico for nine years, creating lead roles and performing throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He has also worked extensively as an educator and choreographer. He earned BS and M. Ed. degrees from Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 1995 he received a Modern Dance Award given by the Puerto Rican Institute of New York. Mr. Costas has taught for educational programs including Ballet Hispanico, City Center and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and master classes in ballet, modern, jazz and ethnic dance styles throughout the country. He was on faculty at California State University, Dominguez Hills for four years before joining the faculty of OCC in 1999. For several years he was the artistic director of Fiesta Latina, an OCC student dance outreach program focusing on the Latino dance/music traditions, receiving an award in 2008 for his efforts to improve community outreach. For a year Mr. Costas served as the Director of the prestigious Ballet Hispanico School of Dance in New York City, where he re-designed the school curriculum, created a new outreach performance program and was the choreographer in residence and Artistic Director for Ballet Hispanico II. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles based José Costas Contempo Ballet.

AOI AIHARA, originally from Tokyo, Japan, began dancing at the age of 3. At the age of 10, she joined the Matsuyama Ballet Company and studied jazz, ballet, contemporary, tap, and musical theater at the Breath Performing Arts Studio. In High School she performed in Cats, A Chorus Line, Wicked, and Hairspray. Aihara came to the U.S. In 2015 to attend Orange Coast College as a dance major and for 3 years received scholarships and awards from the Dance department. In 2018, she had the honor of performing with OCC in the American College Dance Association’s National Conference at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. In 2020, she received her BA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine where she trained under Lar Lubovitch, Tong Wang, and Loretta Livingston, performing in many student and faculty dances. Aihara has danced professionally with José Costas’s Contempo Ballet since 2016.

https://aoiaiharadance.wixsite.com/website

AMYTHYST FRITZLER, a native of Southern California, trained at Orange Coast College before earning her BA in dance from California State University, Long Beach in 2006. While earning her bachelor's degree at CSULB, she received the Margot Fonteyn Memorial Scholarship. Amythyst also received her graduate degree at CSULB in Fall 2013. She earned her Pilates certified from Long Beach Dance Conditioning in 2003 and became a licensed GYROTONIC ® trainer in 2011. In addition to teaching many courses at Orange Coast College, Amythyst has her own business teaching Pilates and the "GYROTONIC ®" Methodology for fitness and wellness throughout Southern CA. Amythyst also teaches at Cerritos College and California State University Long Beach.  The many courses she has taught are: Modern Dance Technique, Dance History, Pilates, Gentle Yoga, Yoga, Strength and Stretch, Social Dance, Techniques & Analysis and Fundamental Rhythms, Performance Dance Ensemble, and Conditioning for Dance. She has had the pleasure of performing the works of noted choreographers in California and New York including: Bradley Lindberg, Louis Cornejo, Linda Sohl-Ellison, Amelie Hunter, Patrick Damon Rago, Doug Nielsen, Shari Brookler, Colleen Dunagan, Michael Nickerson-Rossi and Delyer Anderson. Amythyst was a founding member in both the Nickerson-Rossi Dance Company and the Assembly, as well as, having performed with the Palindrome Dance Company. Her own choreography has been presented at ACDA, Orange Coast College, Golden West Invitational, Kinesis, the Assembly Invitational and Nectar dance performances. Amongst her many accomplish

CHRISTINE BALTES & JANELL BURGESS. Christine Baltes (July 5 1954 - November 24, 2018) studied with Gus Giordano, the grandfather of American Jazz Dance and traveled the U.S. performing on stage and television before moving to California.  Her teaching career spanned over 40 years, holding faculty positions that included UC Irvine, Chapman University, California State University Long Beach, Orange Coast College, ABT at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as well as Orange County School of Arts Commercial Dance Department. Ms. Baltes founded Jazz Spectrum Dance Company in 1982 and choreographing over 40 works during her time as Artistic Director. Since Ms. Baltes's passing, a scholarship fund was founded in her name to help dancers seek further education in the art of jazz dance. Ms. Baltes’s & Ms. Burgess’s relationship spanned over 22 years. Janell diligently studied under Ms. Baltes and served as her assistant and creative associate. After the passing of Ms. Baltes in 2018, Janell re-instated the company and made it her mission to continue the legacy, preserve the repertoire of JSDC, and provide a platform for dance artists to train in pure classical jazz technique. Since taking on artistic direction, she continues to produce work that is clear, relatable, and educational. Ms. Burgess has personally worked with and toured around the world with top artists & choreographers such as Gene Simmons, KC & The Sunshine Band, & Jerry Mitchell. She has served on faculty at the Debbie Reynolds Dance Center, guest lectured on “professionalism in dance” at multiple colleges, and continues to teach & give master classes nationally and internationally. Most recently, Janell has taken on the role of School Director at Richter Academy in Lake Forest, CA providing a home rehearsal space for JSDC and mentoring dancers in the youth academy program into professionalism through dance. 

DAVID McMAHAN, a native of southern California, is a graduate of the University of Arizona School of Dance and received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine. During his professional dance career in New York and San Francisco, he also studied at the Martha Graham School and the Merce Cunningham Studio. David’s recently published thesis research focuses on the relevance of the classical modern dance techniques and their application to the training of current contemporary dancers. Through the influence of first-generation Pilates Elder Ron Fletcher and the mentorship of master teacher Kyria Sabin, he discovered his passion for empowering bodies through the Pilates method. As a senior Faculty member for Fletcher Pilates, David has taught educational programs and continuing education courses throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and South America.

ANGELIKA NEMETH is internationally recognized as a premier dancer and teacher of Raqs al-Sharqi (aka Belly Dance/La Danse Orientale), and is on the dance faculty at Orange Coast College (OCC) as an adjunct professor in Mid-Eastern dance. She was influential in the creation and development of OCC's World Dance Certificate Program, and for the past eleven years has directed their annual World Dance Celebration concert held in May. In 1997 and 2001 she co-produced the historic 1^st and 2^nd International Conferences on Middle Eastern Dance held at OCC. She has been featured world-wide as a workshop instructor, performer and competition judge; creates and leads dance study tours to the Near and Middle East; and has danced for royalty and celebrities in settings from intimate supper clubs to large concert stages. Throughout her career she has received numerous awards and recognition for her dancing and choreography; and for many years directed the renowned Angelika Nemeth Dance Ensemble (ANDE). Her legacy has significantly influenced the field of Middle Eastern dance, especially in Southern California. She is forever grateful to her first belly dance teacher, Feiruz Aram, who inspired her to study this beautiful art form. Angelika has certificates in Dance, Theatre Arts and Related Technologies; a RYT 500-hour yoga teaching credential; and holds a BS in Education and an MA in Psychology specializing in the Transformational Arts. Her master's thesis was on the healing aspects of La Danse Orientale.

www.AngelikaNemeth.com

ZACHARY GROENEWOLD is a dance educator and choreographer based out of Southern California. As a faculty member of the Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, Orange Coast College, and Mt. San Antonio College dance departments he specializes in hip hop/street dance and jazz/contemporary techniques. Zach began dancing at a young age where he was fortunate enough to perform in a variety of media including New Line Cinema’s The Wedding Singer, a commercial for Saban’s Power Rangers, and as part of ABC FAMILY presents WESTLIFE: LIVE. As a performer, Zach was a member of the San Diego based company Axxiom Dance Collective where he was selected to represent the company as a soloist. In 2010, Zach became a member of Team Millennia and in 2012, his dancing and leadership skills earned him the position on the team’s artistic board. During his two years in the position, his leadership helped head the team to 1st place at San Diego’s prestigious Fusion Dance Competition, as well as placing top 5 at other dance competitions, including World of Dance LA and Ultimate Brawl. Concurrently, Zach was also fortunate enough to perform and choreograph in a variety of venues including LA Fashion Week, OC Fashion Week, the World of Dance Industry Awards, and Vidcon. Zach is currently performing as a member of Kings and Queens dance company. In 2018, his work “Focus” received high praise from the American College Dance Association, and was selected for national performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Zach obtained his Master’s degree in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

All Dance Department classes will

return to campus in Spring 2022.

Spring registration Is now open.

http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/enrollment/admissions/Pages/admissions-application-information.aspx

For the courtesy of audience members and performers:

·      All patrons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth at all times while inside the venue.

·     Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and not accessed at any time inside the theatre (before, during or after the performance, during pauses or at intermission).

·     Videotaping and photographs taken by audience members are strictly prohibited.

·     Parents, please take small children outside immediately if they are unable to sit quietly.

·     Anyone creating a disturbance by shouting out inappropriately, or who cannot comply with theatre policies will be asked to leave the theatre.

Thank you for your courtesy to the dancers on stage and to fellow audience members

We Need Your Support!

Your tax-deductible contribution will help offset costs for future OCC Dance Department performances. Your donations will be used wisely; they can assist the department in purchasing materials for costumes, paying for live music, commissioning guest choreographers and introducing our students to master teachers and guest artists. Donations might also provide scholarship opportunities for our dance students. For more information, contact Rachel Berman at 714-432-5691. If you wish to set up an endowed dance scholarship, contact the OCC Dance Department or Doug Bennett at the OCC Foundation.

This event is ADA compliant. For more information please contact Visual & Performing Arts Division at (714) 432-5629