NEW BRITAIN, CT: CCSU’S Dance Education Program + Dancentral present "Huescape" (IN-PERSON + VIRTUAL + FREE!)
Company:
Central CT State University Dance Education Department
CCSU’S Dance Education Program, with Dancentral, presents HUESCAPE on Sunday, April 24th at 3:00 PM at Welte Auditorium on CCSU’s main campus. The show will also be livestreamed at ccsu.edu/dance. Admission is free. Donations are accepted to support dance program scholars. For information, visit ccsu.edu/dance.
The CCSU Dance Education program, under the direction of Pascal Rekoert, presents a packed program featuring six world premieres choreographed by department faculty, two commissioned guest works, three featured student works, and five restaged masterpieces.
Commissioned works include Grey, choreographed by guest artist Alexandra Mitchell; and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, choreographed by guest artist Emily Bufferd.
About the Artists:
Alexandra Mitchell is a colorful, queer creative based in NYC. Her work in choreography has been presented at showcases such as Sybarite Love is Love, The Young Choreographer's Festival, WAX Works, Dumbo Dance Festival and more. As a dancer, she has worked with Cosmopolitan Magazine, Macy's and MTV. Alex is a passionate teaching artist with weekly open classes in Manhattan that emphasize the joy of music and movement and the power of human connection.
Emily Bufferd has been featured in celebrated dance platforms like Dance Spirit and Dance Informa. Described as, “technically superb and amazingly emotive.” -Examiner.com, and “a display of versatility…” -The DancEnthusiast. Her award winning work continues to be commissioned by dance companies and private studios around the country and abroad. She was an Assistant Choreographer to Rekoert, Berenik’s Fall 2017 New York Fashion Week show.
Rekoert said, “Our students are taking full advantage of this opportunity to show off their wide range of talent and superb training. They get to dive into cutting edge creations by two guest choreographers who are leaders in Contemporary Dance, immerse themselves in classical modern and jazz works, show off their hard-hitting hip-hop skills, tap into subtle acting skills in amusing contemporary works, and exercise all of their hard-earned technical prowess in a ballet work. It is a program that is designed to deliver challenges and joys to both the dancers and the audience.”
The performance will also showcase the choreographic aptitude of the Dance Education Program faculty members.
Faculty member Lillian Cook has created two pieces on students from her Hip Hop and Intermediate Jazz courses, giving students a valuable opportunity to deepen their connection to class material through performance. Cook’s hip hop features playful chemistry between the dancers, while her jazz piece is inspired by movement from the classical jazz age.
Professor Stephen Hankey has re-staged two powerful works for this performance. His modern piece is a deeply emotional creation, inspired by the classical modern technique of Martha Graham. Hankey also created a sensual jazz piece centered around the theme of superficial love.
Ingrid Howe-Green has created a contemporary piece to the music of Dave Matthews Band. Her piece celebrates unique individual expression juxtaposed against society’s pressure to conform.
Faculty member and Dancentral Director Erica Nelson has choreographed two drastically different works. Her contemporary ballet piece is an exploration of full-bodied movement inspired by the sweeping music of blondette, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Sigur Rós, and Ezio Bosso. Her contemporary piece, made in collaboration with her dancers uses the energy and personalities of her cast to create an unusual, and at times grotesque display of movement.
Director Pascal Rekoert has four pieces on the program. Of note is his piece Greener Grasses, a re-staged duet that showcases the journey and development of a deeply loving relationship. The show appropriately closes with his piece Abschied, a playful and humorous investigation into the representation of the female form with the fine arts.
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