Hoping everyone had a great holiday break! Classes have started up again for the remainder of winter term and we finally have snow!
Choreographers are busy getting for our Raw Edges performance in February, there is only about six more weeks until the show! Before break we had showings to see what the choreographers have done and all of the pieces look really interesting. There are two ballet pieces on pointe and the rest are more modern contemporary pieces. Can't wait to see how they all turn out!
Seniors are also getting ready to go on auditions starting within the next few weeks. This is always a crazy time getting ready to go out into the dance world and find a job but it's always exciting! Every year our seniors go out and make name for themselves beyond Mercyhurst, which has been our home for the past four years. Our dancers have gone on to dance with companies such as Nashville Ballet, St. Louis Ballet, Oklahoma Ballet, the musical CATS, cruise lines, Disney and even for the Cleveland Cavaliers! Mercyhurst has a great network and we wish all of our seniors good luck on their endeavors.
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." --Alan Watts
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Great Performance!
Thank you to everyone who came out to see our performance 'Tis the Season this past weekend! It was a big success and the audience loved it. Unfortunately one of our dancers was injured at the last minute so there was some shuffling around to replace him but he still made an appearance in the Toy Shop with his "candy" cane. Amidst all the Nutcrackers this season, 'Tis the Season changed it up a little and spread the holiday cheer with skaters, liturgical dancers and dancing elves. Now if we could just get a little more snow!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
'Tis the Season
It's finally here! After months of preparation our holiday performance is upon us. We've been in the theatre this week spacing and rehearsing on the stage. Our tech crew led by Mr. Gleason has been busy building sets for Santa's toy shop and they look fantastic. Everyone is pitching in to finish the costumes and make sure that every last detail is perfect in order to have a great performance. It will be a fairly short show lasting about an hour. Christine Hay's ballet piece "Skaters" will open the performance, followed by "Multitude of Angels", a liturgical piece choreographed Noelle Partusch, and finally "Toy Shop" a fun piece choreographed by Mark Santillano.
Performance are Friday Dec, 9th at 4:30pm, Saturday Dec. 10th at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday Dec. 11th at 2pm.
Tickets: Adult: $15.50
Senior/Student: $12.50
PC: $7.50
Youth 15 and under: $5.00
MC Student: $3.50
Special Preview Performance Friday December 9th, at 4:30 pm $5.00!
Hope to see you there!
Performance are Friday Dec, 9th at 4:30pm, Saturday Dec. 10th at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday Dec. 11th at 2pm.
Tickets: Adult: $15.50
Senior/Student: $12.50
PC: $7.50
Youth 15 and under: $5.00
MC Student: $3.50
Special Preview Performance Friday December 9th, at 4:30 pm $5.00!
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
It's begining to look a lot like Christmas
Hello Everyone!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now that we've all had our fill of turkey and stuffing it's ready to get back to work. Winter term has officially started and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas around the Dance space. We've got our tree up and Christmas lights strung all around the space. It looks great!
The Dance Department had the privilege in participating in the 2011 Erie Festival of Trees this year, an event that is organized by Saint Vincent Health System. The Dance Department donated a Christmas tree decorated in the 'Tis the Season theme. We also presented performances by the Mercyhurst College Liturgical Ensemble with faculty member Noelle Partusch and student Allegra Glinsky. The festival raised over $100,000 and the dance department is proud to have been a part of this wonderful event.
Our Holiday Performance 'Tis the Season is fast approaching and if you are around campus you will start to see posters advertising it. Be sure to leave your calendars open for the weekend of December 10th!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now that we've all had our fill of turkey and stuffing it's ready to get back to work. Winter term has officially started and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas around the Dance space. We've got our tree up and Christmas lights strung all around the space. It looks great!
The Dance Department had the privilege in participating in the 2011 Erie Festival of Trees this year, an event that is organized by Saint Vincent Health System. The Dance Department donated a Christmas tree decorated in the 'Tis the Season theme. We also presented performances by the Mercyhurst College Liturgical Ensemble with faculty member Noelle Partusch and student Allegra Glinsky. The festival raised over $100,000 and the dance department is proud to have been a part of this wonderful event.
Our Holiday Performance 'Tis the Season is fast approaching and if you are around campus you will start to see posters advertising it. Be sure to leave your calendars open for the weekend of December 10th!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Beyond Words
This weekend the Mercyhurst College Dance Department is presenting Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre and SoMar Dance Works in the fall performance, Beyond Words.
Both companies have been rehearsing for the past few months and have some exciting new works to perform! Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre is performing three pieces choreographed by Tauna Hunter, Thom Clower and alumni Sarah Grace. SoMar will capture the audiences with pieces including ones about monsters under the bed and a tribute to 9/11. Each company has a group of talented dancers and it is not a show to miss!
Performances are on Saturday at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $15.15 for Adults, $12.50 for senior/students, $7.50 for presidents club, $5 for youth and $3.50 for MC students.
Hope to see you there!
Both companies have been rehearsing for the past few months and have some exciting new works to perform! Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre is performing three pieces choreographed by Tauna Hunter, Thom Clower and alumni Sarah Grace. SoMar will capture the audiences with pieces including ones about monsters under the bed and a tribute to 9/11. Each company has a group of talented dancers and it is not a show to miss!
Performances are on Saturday at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $15.15 for Adults, $12.50 for senior/students, $7.50 for presidents club, $5 for youth and $3.50 for MC students.
Hope to see you there!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Paul Taylor Dance Visits Mercyhurst
Last Friday Mercyhurst had the great opportunity to see Paul Taylor Dance Company perform at the D'angelo Performing Arts Center. We have been very lucky to see many world renowned companies perform here at Mercyhurst and Paul Taylor is one of them.
Paul Taylor Dance Company is a medium sized modern company based in New York City. Their repertory is centered on works choreographed by Paul Taylor. The company has performed in over 540 cities and 64 countries, representing themselves as one of the top modern companies in the world.
In their performance here on Friday they performed three works. The first piece was a fun one set to popular music from the ragtime era. It was broken up into different "episodes" with different relationships between the dancers on stage. There was plenty of comedy in the piece and lots of energy. The next piece performed was a much calmer and almost ethereal work. It reminded me a bit of liturgical dance with the movement style and music. The piece they closed the performance with, was by far my favorite. The dancers were dressed in fantastic green costumes and the music was Brandenburg concertos #6 and #3. The movement showed off the dancers’ technicality and quick speed along with energy and big movement.
In the dance department we had the amazing opportunity to take a master class from one of the company members. She taught a great class focusing on the Taylor style and at the end of class she taught a movement phrase from the piece "Brandenburgs". It made the performance that much more engaging when we could see the part of choreography we learned, danced by the company onstage!
Taking class and seeing Paul Taylor Dance Company perform was a great way to end last week. Looking forward to a short week this week before fall break!
"I want to lift the audience to the miraculous in human nature. After all, we shouldn't be here, with all the odds against us in nature. It's kind of unusual and wonderful!" -Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor Dance Company is a medium sized modern company based in New York City. Their repertory is centered on works choreographed by Paul Taylor. The company has performed in over 540 cities and 64 countries, representing themselves as one of the top modern companies in the world.
In their performance here on Friday they performed three works. The first piece was a fun one set to popular music from the ragtime era. It was broken up into different "episodes" with different relationships between the dancers on stage. There was plenty of comedy in the piece and lots of energy. The next piece performed was a much calmer and almost ethereal work. It reminded me a bit of liturgical dance with the movement style and music. The piece they closed the performance with, was by far my favorite. The dancers were dressed in fantastic green costumes and the music was Brandenburg concertos #6 and #3. The movement showed off the dancers’ technicality and quick speed along with energy and big movement.
In the dance department we had the amazing opportunity to take a master class from one of the company members. She taught a great class focusing on the Taylor style and at the end of class she taught a movement phrase from the piece "Brandenburgs". It made the performance that much more engaging when we could see the part of choreography we learned, danced by the company onstage!
Taking class and seeing Paul Taylor Dance Company perform was a great way to end last week. Looking forward to a short week this week before fall break!
"I want to lift the audience to the miraculous in human nature. After all, we shouldn't be here, with all the odds against us in nature. It's kind of unusual and wonderful!" -Paul Taylor
Friday, September 30, 2011
Want to dance?
Did you used to dance but you're not a dance major? Never danced before but think it would be cool to try? Need a fun way to get some exercise? Then open class is for you!
Tuesdays and Thursdays in the dancespace you can find several kinds of dance classes to take part in. On both days an Intermediate Ballet Technique class is taught by senior dance major Tori Scott. It's a great class to come and take if you used to do ballet or if you are a dance major and want to take some extra classes. There is no dress code so it's a great way to take a good class and have fun. On Tuesdays Belly Dancing is taught by Anna Daught who is also a senior dance major. This class is something different and really fun. If you don't know much about Belly Dancing or are curious to try it, then come see what it is all about! On Thursdays junior dance major Jessica Stachelrodt teaches Hip Hop. This class is a good work out sure to make you sweat. It's good for someone trying hip hop for the first time or someone who has taken it for years. If you didn't know how to move before you will certainly be able to after one of Jessica's classes! There is also an intermediate/advanced Ballet Class taught on Saturday mornings.
So if it's Ballet you are interested in or you want to try Belly Dancing or Hip Hop, please don't hesitate to come by and check out these great classes! Mercyhurst community can attend Hip Hop and Belly Dancing for free, the Ballet class is $5 per class or you can purchase a class card. General Public must purchase a class card to take any of the open classes.
For more information check out the Mercyhurst Dance Department Website! dance.mercyhurst.edu
Schedule of Classes:
Intermediate Ballet - Tues. and Thurs. 6-7:30 p.m.
Belly Dancing - Tues. 6-7:30 p.m.
Hip Hop - Thurs. 6-7:30 p.m.
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet - Sat. 10:30 a.m. - noon
All classes in Zurn Hall danceSpace studios
Tuesdays and Thursdays in the dancespace you can find several kinds of dance classes to take part in. On both days an Intermediate Ballet Technique class is taught by senior dance major Tori Scott. It's a great class to come and take if you used to do ballet or if you are a dance major and want to take some extra classes. There is no dress code so it's a great way to take a good class and have fun. On Tuesdays Belly Dancing is taught by Anna Daught who is also a senior dance major. This class is something different and really fun. If you don't know much about Belly Dancing or are curious to try it, then come see what it is all about! On Thursdays junior dance major Jessica Stachelrodt teaches Hip Hop. This class is a good work out sure to make you sweat. It's good for someone trying hip hop for the first time or someone who has taken it for years. If you didn't know how to move before you will certainly be able to after one of Jessica's classes! There is also an intermediate/advanced Ballet Class taught on Saturday mornings.
So if it's Ballet you are interested in or you want to try Belly Dancing or Hip Hop, please don't hesitate to come by and check out these great classes! Mercyhurst community can attend Hip Hop and Belly Dancing for free, the Ballet class is $5 per class or you can purchase a class card. General Public must purchase a class card to take any of the open classes.
For more information check out the Mercyhurst Dance Department Website! dance.mercyhurst.edu
Schedule of Classes:
Intermediate Ballet - Tues. and Thurs. 6-7:30 p.m.
Belly Dancing - Tues. 6-7:30 p.m.
Hip Hop - Thurs. 6-7:30 p.m.
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet - Sat. 10:30 a.m. - noon
All classes in Zurn Hall danceSpace studios
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