University of Missouri at Kansas City
Conservatory of Dance and Music

Dance Department's

Fall Concert 2008

7, 8 November 2008 in White Recital Hall at UMKC

This is an unusual Choreofest.
Four pieces in particular bring something new or different: Torelli, Battlefields , Ebony Concerto and Passage.

Torelli, a piece by Twyla Tharp was restaged by one of the student dancers, Chloe Abel.
This comes about as a result of working with KC Ballet's William Whitener (himself a former Tharp dancer) on Tharp's Deuce Coup.
More on this below, but Chloe was handed a singular and unusual responsibility for a dance student.

Battlefields was set on UMKC dance students this October by Battleworks director and choreographer Robert Battle along with his
rehearsal director Erika Pujic. Robert also gave a week of master classes to the students. While they were
doing this they also set a duet ("Unfold") on Wylliams/Henry with DeeAnna Hiett, Holly DeWitt and Winston Brown.

Ebony Concerto (Stravinsky's 1945 commission from clarinetist Woody Herman) choreographed by by Sabrina Madison-Canon
will use live music in a collaboration with the UMKC conservatory's Music and Wind Ensemble, a major-size
orchestra which will occupy the upstage right quarter of the stage. The dancers will work down stage and stage left.

Passage by DeeAnna Hiett which is a new arrangement of her original choreography in which she has either performed or directed
(i.e. this fall, directing Karah Abiog in the September Wylliams/Henry, as she herself was still recovering from injury in the May 2008 concert).
DeeAnna is adding two women to the piece. Previously this was always one woman and three men. This time it becomes a three-couple dance

White hall was full both nights. This shot is from the back of the balcony during Intermission for the fall 2008 dance concert
White hall was full both nights. This shot is from the back of the balcony during Intermission.
This is the location used for the overhead friday performance shots below.

Eight Pieces In All

This set of links goes to locations farther down on this (same) page
OFF CENTER - by Paula Weber
IN THE MIDST OF… - by Rodni Williams
CAPPRICCIO - by Mary Pat Henry
TORELLI - by Twyla Tharp - restaged by Chloe Abel
EBONY CONCERTO - by Sabrina Madison-Canon
WHITE - by Paula Weber
PASSAGE - by DeeAnna Hiett
Battlefields -by Robert Battle

See sections below for an expanded treatment of each of the eight pieces.

The credits and acknowledgements below are copied directly from the concert program.
Other information is from this website

 

Nicolette Miller in UMKC fall 2008 show rehearsal for Off Center
Nicolette Miller

Off Center

Choreography Paula Weber
Music Kenji Bunch
Groovebox
Lighting Design EJ Reinagel
Costumes Design Paula Weber
Costume Construction Paula Weber and Gayla Voss
Dancers Skyler Taylor, Caitlin Schuler, Molly Vaeth, Nicolette Miller (with Kelanie Murphy on Saturday)with: Marie Buser, Jillian Carlile, Abi Englehardt, Elena Hofer, Louisa Mann, Andrea Mason, Lynley Schaffer, Megan Stockman
Molly Vaeth in studio rehearsals for Off Center - UMKC fall 2008 show
Molly Vaeth

Molly Vaeth in front of choreographer Paula Weber (left) and lighting designer E.J. Reinagel - in-studio for Off Center - UMKC fall 2008 fall show
Molly Vaeth in front of choreographer Paula Weber (left) and lighting designer E.J. Reinagel.

Caitlin Shuler
Caitlin Shuler
 

 

In The Midst Of ...

Choreography Rodni Williams
Music Full CIrcle and Diane Reeves
Lighting Design Latice Lovette
Costumes by Rodni Williams
Dancers Mackenzie Allen, Pamela Auinbach, Marlee Bailey, Shanna Colbern, Brittany Duskin, Catherine Glaze, Shannon Hutsler, Ashley Odom, Christopher Page, Asha Singh, William Smith, Gavin Stewart, Megan Squires, Michael Tomlinson, Mari Watson
 

 

Cappriccio

Choreography Mary Pat Henry
Music Carlo Farina
Musical Artist Noel Pointer
Lighting Design Richard L. Sprecker
Costumes by Elizabeth Hard-Simms
Dancers Kelanie Murphy and Will Smith, Ashley Zimmerman and Sam Lopp,
Andrea Mason and Michael Tomlinson
Cappriccio borrows upon the social traditions and dance steps of Galliard and the Volte from the Renaissance Period.
Sam Lopp and Ashley Zimmerman in Cappriccio by Mary Pat Henry for the fall 2008 UMKC conservatory dance concert
Sam Lopp and Ashley Zimmerman,
Sam Lopp and Ashley Zimmerman, Michael Tomlinson and Andrea Mason in Cappriccio by Mary Pat Henry for the fall 2008 UMKC conservatory dance concert
Sam Lopp and Ashley Zimmerman, Michael Tomlinson and Andrea Mason
 

  Christina Burton, Christopher Page in Torelli by Thwilya Tharp arranged by Chloe Abel
Christina Burton, Christopher Page

Torelli

Choreography Twyla Tharp © 1999 Tharp
Staged by Chloe Abel
Music Guiseppi Torelli - Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8, No 7
Lighting Design EJ Reinagel
Costume Design by Conservatory Dancers
Dancers Amanda Artigas, Christina Burton, Kassi Butler, Katie Dalzell, Brittany Feiten, Catherine Glaze, Shannon Hutsler, Elaine Kimble, Jayna Lucia, Katie Metzger, Erin Muenks, Kelanie Murphy, Christopher Page, Whitney Ricketts, Asha Singh, Gavin Stewart, Megan Stockman, Ariel Swinney, Nina-Rose Wardanian, Natalie Wise
  This "Great Works Project" was made possible by the generosity of the Nottberg Foundation.

Chloe Abel as she tells the audience about "Torelli" then heads backstage.

Ms. Abel explained that the piece, as it comes from Tharp is a do-it-yourself kit with music, video reference and units of choreography which each licensee arranges and connects in their own manner. So instead of a frozen arrangement, Tharp's pieces become collaborative variations reflecting both Tharp and the dancers performing it. That means you are not seeing the original 1971 Tharp piece. Instead you are seeing an ever-changing version reflecting the resources and abilities of each organization.

Torelli
Kelanie Murphy in Torelli - in front, during dress, from stage front position
Kelanie Murphy in front, during dress rehearsal, shot from stage front position.
Torelli - The same place in the dance as just above. Kelanie Murphy in front, during friday performance, shot from balcony, back of house.
The same place in the dance as just above.
Kelanie Murphy in front, during friday performance, shot from balcony, back of house.
Chloe Abel (center) on the near end of the bench directing her arrangement of Twyla Tharp's piece. On the bench from far to near: William Whitener artistic director of Kansas City Ballet (KCB), Paula Weber Dance Division chair, and lighting guy E.J. Reinagel.
Chloe Abel (center) on the near end of the bench directing her arrangement of Twyla Tharp's piece.

On the bench from far to near: William Whitener artistic director of Kansas City Ballet (KCB), Paula Weber Dance Division chair, and lighting guy E.J. Reinagel.

Whitener was visiting as a professional courtesy to both Paula and Chloe. Bill Whitener is a former Tharp dancer. As artistic director of KCB Whitener has put on various Tharp pieces. Chloe came out of training at the KCB School.

During KCB's fall 2006 performace of "Deuce Coupe" (by the professional company) Whitener said he had Chloe learn a solo section which she performed as a student at the end of the year for KCB's school program. Last summer (2008), Whitener said, Chloe worked on "Torelli" for the KCB School which makes the UMKC production the second time she has arranged Tharp material. Whitener noted that the two "Torelli" productions (KCB School and UMKC) are separate licenses and not otherwise connected.

 

 

The Quintet: From bottom left, counter-clockwise: Brittany Duskin, Chloe Abel, Katie Metzger, Brittany Feiten and (top, behind, barely visible) Natalie Wise
The Quintet: From bottom left, counter-clockwise: Brittany Duskin, Chloe Abel, Katie Metzger, Brittany Feiten and (top, behind, barely visible) Natalie Wise

Ebony Concerto

Choreography Sabrina Madison-Cannon
Conducted by Steven Davis
Musicians Soloist – Dr. Jane Carl, clarinet
UMKC Conservatory's Music and Wind Ensemble
Conductor: Steven D. Davis
Clarinet: Jessica Connor, Kaci Schick, Michael J. Tolbert
Bass Clarinet: Katie Kalinowski
Saxophone: Blake Deibel, Stephen Martin, Michael Shults, Alex Toepfer, Adam Uhlenhake
Horn: Adam W. Paxson
Trumpet: Andy Harms, Aaron Linscheid, John Merlitz, Peter Pirotte, Ryan Sharp
Trombone: Nick Bell, Chris White
Bass Trombone: Sarah Braun
Drum Set: Steve Schob
Guitar: Nick Grinlinton
Piano: Colin McDearman
Music Igor Stravinsky “Ebony Concerto”
CD on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ebony-Concerto/dp/B00000159G
Or as an MP3 album
Or CD Universe
Lighting Design Delinda Pushtonequa
Costume Design Eugenia Stallings
(Costumes are courtesy of Southern Methodist University)
Dancers Quintet:
Chloe Abel (Skyler Taylor)
Brittany Duskin (Katie Dalzell)
Brittany Feiten (Miyesha McGriff)
Katie Metzger (Karen Schongar)
Natalie Wise (Saturday), Nina-Rose Wardanian (Friday)

Duet:

Erik Sobbe (Chris Page)
Molly Vaeth (Brittany Duskin)

Trio:

Elaine Kimble (Skyler Taylor)
Christopher Page (Erik Sobbe)
Ariel Swinney (Chloe Abel)

Understudies:
Katie Dalzell, Miyesha McGriff, Skyler Taylor

Igor Stravinsky wrote Ebony Concerto in 1945, on commission by band leader and clarinet player Woody Herman. The piece was written for clarinet and a jazz band. There are three movements:
1 - Allegro Moderato - nervous and spikey section, lot of drums/piano and brass
2 - Andante - a metro-jazzy blues-tinged section
3 - Moderato - rhythms crash into one another eventually working into a classically smooth finale

RELATED WEBSITES:
Stravinsky Biography - http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/stravnsk.html
Life and Works of Stravinsky - http://www.ozemail.com.au/~caveman/Stravinsky/
Internet Public Library Page on Stravinsky - http://www.ipl.org/exhibit/mushist/twen/stravinsky.htm
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ebony-Concerto/dp/B00000159G
Amazon mp3 download: http://www.amazon.com/Ebony-Concerto/dp/B000QQQZAM/ref=dmusic_cd_album

Eric Sobbe and Molly Vaeth in Ebony Concerto at UMKC Fall 2008 Concert rehearsal
Eric Sobbe and Molly Vaeth in Ebony Concerto
L-R: Brittany Feiten, Chloe Abel, Brittany Duskin (on floor, looking through) and Katie Metzger in Ebony Concerto by Sabrina Madison-Canon - UMKC fall 2008 concert
L-R: Brittany Feiten, Chloe Abel, Brittany Duskin (on floor, looking through) and Katie Metzger
Christopher Page in Ebony Concerto
Christopher Page
Eric Sobbe and Molly Vaeth in Ebony Concerto by Sabrina Madison-Canon - UMKC fall 2008 concert
Eric Sobbe and Molly Vaeth
Molly Vaeth and Eric Sobbe in Ebony Concerto for UMKC Fall 2008 dance concert
Molly Vaeth and Eric Sobbe
 

 

A moment in White rehearsal/class - Marie Buser (pink) talking with Myesha McGriff (back). Next in line toward mirror: Caitlin Shuler, Andrea Shipman, Kelanie Murphy. At left, on bench: Paula Weber. In front of her, reflected in mirror: Nicolette Miller and Eric Sobbe.
A moment in rehearsal/class for "Whilte" - Marie Buser (facing, pink tank) talking with Myesha McGriff (back to camera). Next in line toward mirror: Caitlin Shuler, Stephanie Shipman, Kelanie Murphy. At left, on bench: Paula Weber (teacher/choreographer). Working in front of her, reflected in mirror: Nicolette Miller and Eric Sobbe.

White

Choreography Paula Weber
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, second movement, lengthened
Lighting Design EJ Reinagel
Costumes by Paula Weber
Dancers Nicolette Miller and Eric Sobbe
Pamela Auinbauh and Samuel Lopp
with
Chloe Able, Marie Buser, Willa Dock, Catherine Glaze, Miyesha McGriff, Katie Metzger, Kelanie Murphy, Caitlin Schuler, Angela Shipman, Stephanie Shipman, Skyler Taylor, Molly Vaeth
Eric Sobbe in White by Paula Weber - UMKC fall 2008 concert (in-studio rehearsal)
Eric Sobbe
Sam Lopp in White by Paula Weber - UMKC fall 2008 concert (in-studio rehearsal)
Sam Lopp
Skyler Taylor in White by Paula Weber - UMKC fall 2008 concert (in-studio rehearsal)
Skyler Taylor
Entering from upstage right (in studio 103, by the main door) Eric Sobbe (carrying) and Nicolette Miller (top) in White by Paula Weber - UMKC fall 2008 concert (in-studio rehearsal)
Entering from "upstage right" (in studio 103, by the main door) Eric Sobbe (carrying) and Nicolette Miller (top).
Off to the left: Gavin Stewart (backside) and Will Smith)
Eric Sobbe and Nicolette Miller - in studio rehearsal (see performance below)
Eric Sobbe and Nicolette Miller - in studio rehearsal (see performance below) shot from "ground" level.
Eric Sobbe and Nicolette Miller - in performance version of the studio shot above, shot from the balcony in back during the friday performance.
Eric Sobbe and Nicolette Miller - in performance version of the studio shot above, shot from the balcony in back during the friday performance.

Pam Auinbauh and Sam Lopp

Nicolette Miller and Eric Sobbe
 

 

Molly Vaeth and Eric Harbin in Passage by DeeAnna Hiett
Molly Vaeth and Eric Harbin

Passage

This piece is a new version by DeeAnna Hiett, this time adding two more women. In the past Passage has been with one woman and three men. Now it is three and three.

Choreography DeeAnna Hiett
Music Vas and Micky Hart
Lighting Design SeifAllah Cristobal
Costumes by Gerard Alexander
Dancers Molly Vaeth, Pamela Auinbauh, Nina-Rose Wardanian,
Eric Harbin, Chris Page, Micheal Tomlinson
Christopher Page in Passage by DeeAnna Hiett
Christopher Page
(L-R) Molly Vaeth, Eric Harbin, Pam Auinbauh, Mike Tomlinson in Passage by DeeAnna Hiett for the fall 2008 UMKC dance concert
(L-R) Molly Vaeth, Eric Harbin, Pam Auinbauh, Mike Tomlinson
 

 

Battleworks - UMKC dancers in a first rehearsal for this piece. Despite the scrum-like look to this formation note the coordinated foot positions, even this early in studio rehearsals for the UMKC fall 2008 concert
Battleworks - UMKC dancers in a first rehearsal for this piece. Despite the scrum-like first glance look to this formation, note the coordinated foot positions, even this early in studio rehearsal. Here the dancers are turning as they move outward, going from a tight formation to specific positions in a large circle.

Battlefield

http://www.battleworksdance.com

Choreography Robert Battle
Staged by Erika Pujic
Rehearsal Direction Sabrina Madison-Canon
Music Les Tamboures Du Bronx
Lighting Design EJ Reinagel
Costumes Designed and Supplied by UMKC Dance Division
Dancers I
Craig Allen, Christina Burton, Kassi Butler, Shanna Colburn, Ashley Davis, Brittany Duskin, Sam Lopp, Jennifer Lowe, Jayna Lucia, Christopher Page, Whitney Ricketts, Sara Beth Rothammer, Erik Sobbe, Ariel Swinney, Erin Taylor, Skyler Taylor, Michael Tomlinson, Ashley Tullinger
II
Ensemble
III
Ashley Davis, Jennifer Lowe, Ariel Swinney, Erin Taylor
IV
Ensemble
  Robert Battle's tenure at UMKC was partially underwritten by the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts - Commerce Bank, Trustee
Robert Battle talking with UMKC dancers in studio
Robert Battle talking with UMKC dancers in studio
Robert Battle demonstrating. On the left is Erika Pujic (Battleworks dancer and rehearsal director for this work), Robert Battle, Mary Pat Henry, Sabrina Madison-Canon.
Robert Battle demonstrating. On the left is Erika Pujic (Battleworks dancer and rehearsal director for this work), Robert Battle, Mary Pat Henry, Sabrina Madison-Canon.
Left-Right: Kassi Butler, Eric Sobbe - first rehearsal  at UMKC for Battlefield - 7nov2008
Left-Right: Kassi Butler, Eric Sobbe - first rehearsal
Front to right: Mike Tomlinson, Sam Lopp, Eric Sobbe - first rehearsal for Battlefield
Front to right: Mike Tomlinson, Sam Lopp, Eric Sobbe - first rehearsal
 
 

 

Conservatory of Music and Dance – Dance Division

Back of the house for the fall 2008 dance concert (7, 8 Nov 08): in the chair are Mary Pat Henry, Sabrina Madison-Canon and DeeAnna Hiett. Left is UMKC dancer Will Smith, then Jack Canon (blurry) and right is Nicole English (tech note, this is a four-second exposure)
Back of the house saturday: In the chair are Mary Pat Henry (Assistant Dean of Conservatory Faculty), Sabrina Madison-Canon and DeeAnna Hiett (professors, dance division). Left is UMKC dancer Will Smith, then Jack Canon (Sabrina's hubby, kinda blurred and the chort blur in front of Jack is (I think) Jackie, their active son) and right is Nicole English (tech note, this is a four-second exposure with a very wide angle lens)

PROFESSORS
Mary Pat Henry – Assistant Dean of Conservatory Faculty
DeeAnna Hiett
Sabrina Madison-Cannon
Paula Weber – Division Chair
Rodni Williams

ADJUNCT PROFESSORS
Sally Delozier
Jennifer Owen
Michael Simms
Lindsey Rosemann

LIGHTING DESIGN PROFESSOR
Victor Tan

PRODUCTION STAFF

Concert Director – Paula Weber
Production Manager – Robert Beck
Stage managers - Lexie Klasing, Katie Dalzell
Master Electrician – SeifAllah Cristobal
Lead Lighting Designer – EJ Reinagel
Lighting Design – SeifAllah Cristobal, Latrice Lovette, Delinda Pushtonequa, and Richard L. Sprecker

Light Board Operator – Jessica Bertine
Sound Design – Robert Beck
Sound Operators - Hanna Benditt, Lynley Schaffer
Curtain - Eric Harbin, Heather Costello
Technical Crew - Valerie Brents, Rachel Crawford, Lacee Ebert, Kaitlin Heibel, Stephanie Morrow, Ana Monica Sanchez, Lauren Winstead, Molly Zongker


Choreofest 2008, An Impressive Show, Large Audiences

by Nicole English

Patrons turned out in large numbers on Nov. 7-8 for the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance annual Choreofest Fall Concert, filling White Recital Hall almost full to capacity both in the balcony and the main floor for both nights. This year's Choreofest 2008 treated audiences to an impressive array of choreography by both well-known artists in the field and dance faculty, performed heroically by the latest remarkable group of students in the dance program.

Each year the Conservatory dance students get better and better, both coming into the program, and going out, and this year's ensemble was true to form. Although these young dancers sometimes do get rattled at times and make minor errors, their technique and performances, on the whole, are quite good, and are competitive with local semi-professional dance groups.

Although the Conservatory's Dance Division has always had a very good reputation for quality teaching and producing professional-ready dancers, it has really blossomed in recent years under the leadership of Mary Pat Henry and Paula Weber, and with the generous support of former Conservatory Dean, Randall Pembrook. And their efforts have certainly paid off. The UMKC Dance Program was recently academically accredited and the dance students are better than ever. And so is the choreography that the dance students are performing.

This year's Choreofest included student dancer performances of choreography by Robert Battle, Mary Pat Henry, DeeAnna Hiett, Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Paula Weber, Rodni Williams, and Twyla Tharp. The latter piece is a student arrangement of a popular Tharp work, and competently done by Chloe Abel, under the auspices of William Whitener, artistic director of the Kansas City Ballet.

The show opened with Off Center, choreographed by Paula Weber to music by Kenji Bunch. This was a fun, contemporary ballet performed in white shorts and medium-length tutus. Entertaining and engaging, this ensemble piece gave the show a light-hearted and lively start.

"The name of the piece comes from the fact that it is an odd little piece... off-center," said choreographer and Dance Division chair, Paula Weber. "Odd and fun."

The next piece on the program was In the Midst of.... Choreographed by modern dance faculty, Rodni Williams, to music by Full Circle and Diane Reeves, this dark, moody piece was a barefoot modern composition along the lines of Alvin Ailey with a dash of Alwin Nikolai, but in a style unique to Williams. The number was performed in skirts composed of ragged strips, under high-contrast earth-tone lights reminiscent of firelight. This Williams work was effectively primal and woeful.

"It is a dance about survival and taking care of each other," said Rodni Williams, describing his work. "It concerns the turmoil of our times... inspired by the turmoil and environmental disasters that we have experienced recently.... and particularly Hurricane Ike."

"In the dance, people take care of each other, which is what w need to do in today's times," added Williams.

Next on the program was a delightful sextet, Cappriccio, choreographed by Conservatory Assistant Dean, Mary Pat Henry. Borrowing from the court dances of the Renaissance, Henry used steps that later became the roots for the classical ballet we now enjoy. Using the Renaissance forms of the Galliard and Volte as a character motif, Henry skillfully wove classical ballet steps into the court dance structure. The dance was choreographed to music by Carlo Farina, but performed by jazz violinist, Noel Pointer, giving the piece an added dose of whimsy.

"I had always wanted to do a ballet based on Renaissance court dances, since that is where ballet evolved," said Mary Pat Henry. "It is based on a classical ballet vocabulary.... but it is influenced by the actual steps of the Galliard and the Volta from the Renaissance ... and it is a Renaissance piece of music .... but played by a jazz musician violinist.... so, I also incorporated some whimsy as well into the choreography."

The Twyla Tharp piece, Torelli, was next, arranged by a very promising student, Chloe Abel, a junior in the dance program. No stranger to contemporary music, she is the daughter of famed KC jazz musician, Milt Abel. She distinguished herself early as dance student at the Kansas City Ballet School, and was hand-picked by William Whitener, artistic director for the Kansas City Ballet to assist him when he reconstructed the Twyla Tharp piece, Deuce Coupe, for the Kansas City Ballet last year, and she performed a section of it for the KC Ballet's year-end show. As a result, Abel was asked to teach the Torelli choreography to KC Ballet School students over the summer, which then lead to the opportunity to set the choreography on UMKC dance students. This was a task of extraordinary responsibility and skill for one so young, and speaks to her abilities as future dancer, choreographer, and dance mistress.

"Chloe has a remarkable sense of timing," said Paula Weber, ballet faculty director and chair of the Dance Division. "It makes her a very promising dance mistress, as well as an accomplished dancer."

After Chloe Abel arranged the choreography and rehearsed her peers, William Whitener agreed to watch the rehearsals and critique her work.

"She did a great job," said Whitener, after reviewing her work.

Abel was true to the Tharp style and timing, using all the dancers available to her in typical Tharp staging. The Tharp technique uses very natural movements in a style of choreography that overlapping layers of ensemble work one atop the other, making a very complicated, busy motif. It uses lots of dancers moving in lots of directions simultaneously, with overlapping vignettes. Despite the complexity, Chloe Abel and her dancers managed to pull off the intricate choreography with great enthusiasm, making a fine showing.

"I think the performance went well," said Chloe Abel about the number. "I could feel the energy from the wings so that was a good sign."

After the intermission, the show reopened with Igor Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto, played live by members of the UMKC Conservatory's Music and Wind Ensemble, conducted by Steven D. Davis and featuring Dr. Jane Carl as clarinet soloist. This barefoot modern piece was performed by a small ensemble of dancers dressed in brown unitards, and was a wonderful abstract interpretation of Stravinsky's stirring music.

"Stravinsky composed the music as a tribute to Woody Harrelson," said choreographer, Sabrina Madison-Cannon, explaining the music and how she based her work upon it. "It is a great piece of music... and the dance is simply my representation of the music... it has no definitive story line or narrative... it is simply based on musical phrasing."

Ironically, the next number up was a contemporary ballet ensemble work, White, choreographed again by Dance Division Chair, Paula Weber. This was an award-winning piece that originally had been choreographed in 2004 for the Regional Dance Craft of Choreography Conference. It was a large ensemble piece with two couples dancing duets and a corps de ballet of 12 women, all in dressed in white leotards and tops. The choreography was very flowing and breezy, and because of the large number of dancers, by necessity, the choreography was also very tight and very coordinated.

"It was a good piece to do... I expanded it for our students, since they have the skill to do more than what I originally choreographed... and it has lots of roles... so lots of student could participate... I feel our students should dance and perform as much as possible," said Weber. It is also a piece that has challenging steps, but it is a one that is also fun to perform."

Next on the program was a new arrangement of DeeAnna Hiett's outstanding work, Passage, set to music by Vas and Micky Hart. A recent recipient of the Charlotte Street Award, DeeAnna Hiett is returning to the Conservatory this year as tenured faculty in modern dance, after recovering from a serious knee injury last season. Typical of Hiett's style, her choreography was performed in loincloths and panel skirts, which complimented the choreography. A barefoot modern piece set on three couples, this dance was exciting, stirring, primal, and very visual, bearing the distinct stamp of DeeAnna Hiett. It was also a great crowd pleaser, receiving sustained applause and much yelling of approval.

"It is an abstract piece, with no literal meaning, but I like the mysterious meeting of the sexes as a topic... of man meets woman, and their journey through their connection," said Hiett about her choreography. "But I like the audience to interpret what sort of passage they see."

Last on the program was Battlefields, choreographed by Robert Battle. It was set on the UMKC dancers recently when Battle's dance group presented a dance concert at the Conservatory and agreed to work with students in a master class.

True to Battle's style (and his namesake), Battlefields is very militaristic and incorporates movements very suggestive of Battle's martial arts background. Many of the movements are counter-intuitive, so as not to telegraph to the viewer what the next move will be. It is also very energetic and athletic choreography requiring a great deal of stamina to execute. According to dance mistress, Sabrina Madison-Cannon, the stamina was probably the greatest challenge the piece presented to the students.

"In learning the piece, the students biggest challenge was the stamina... they adapted to the style very quickly... Erika Pujic (Battle's assistant) was able to set it on our students in less than three days... because they picked it up really fast," said Madison-Cannon. "But it is a killer of a number... very athletic and challenging... very fast and concentrated."

The number was performed by a large ensemble of 18 dancers dressed in black pants and tops. It opened with the haze of artificial smoke under lighting that was very suggestive of a war-time scene in the trenches. This was a very strong piece set to very aggressive, percussive music by Les Tamboures Du Bronx. Caught up in the excitement of the sound of the music and the vivid imagery, the crowd responded with long, enthusiastic applause.

Ben Biswell, a UMKC dancer who just graduating in May, and is now working professionally with the Minnesota Ballet, drove eight hours just to catch this concert over the weekend, just to catch his peers in performance. His comments on the Battle piece were reflective of what many audience members were saying about the number.

"The last piece, Battlefields, was amazing," said Biswell. "I never knew that much about Robert Battle... but this was a great introduction to his work.... He blew me away with this piece... and EJ did such a great job with the lighting... it was phenomenal... just phenomenal."


 



Unless otherwise noted photos and copyright 2024 Mike Strong KCDance.Com and Mike Strong Photo Gallery and CV Site - Email This Page

UMKC Dance Division page links on this site

UMKC Dance Division moments between studio classes

Dance Division moments between studio classes

Fall Concerts
 With staff and guest choreography 

November 2017
November 2016
November 2015
November 2013
November 2012
November 2011
November 2010
November 2009
November 2008
November 2007
November 2006
November 2005

Spring Concerts
 Held every April with staff and visiting choreography. A showcase for the year. 

April 2017
April 2016
April 2014
April 2012
April 2011
April 2010
April 2008
April 2007

Other Dance Concerts and Dance Division Events at UMKC
 Held every April with staff and visiting choreography. A showcase for the year. 

Carmina Burana
CORPS de Ballet 2011 Conference with the introduction of the Tudor Curriculum
Battleworks Concert - 25 October 2008
UMKC Master Class with Robert Battle - 20-24 Oct 2008
Note: as of spring 2011 Robert Battle took over as Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey from the retiring Judith Jamison.
Master Class with Donald McKayle - August 2006
100th Year Anniversaryof the Conservatory - April 2006

Senior Recitals
These are held in the winter semester and the graduating seniors begin signups and rehearsals early in the fall semester. This is one of their last graded works. Each senior choreographs and directs a group piece and performs in a solo which may be self-choreography or another's and may also be a duet if there is a large enough mix of solo to duet.

There are a number of recital concerts, depending on the total number of seniors. Generally the mid-week concerts have in-town seniors while those with families out of town are scheduled for Saturdays so relatives can attend.

Senior Recital 2012
Senior Recital 2011
Senior Recital 2008
Senior Recital 2007
Senior Recital 2005

Related Links
 Non-UMKC events which have UMKC dancers, staff or visiting artists. 

Don McKayle talk 24 Jan 2008 at Public Library, KCMO about Kansas City Ballet piece he was commisioned to create.
UMKC guys in Romeo and Juliet at Kansas City Ballet Spring 2008 backstage in costumes.
Wylliams/Henry Sept 2006 and "Games ," choreography Donald McKayle.

For some of the least expensive, good dance entertainment in Kansas City the University of Missouri Kansas City's Conservatory of Dance and Music's Dance Division offers some of the best young adult dancers in the area. UMKC's Dance Division is among the top dance schools in the country. Those of us who live in this area often miss that distinction but people elsewhere know (isn't it always so?).