The News Review:
- ‘Stomp the Yard’
- Lean mean dancing machine on horizon?
- SU dance still No. 1
- Rio Mesa students to dance ‘Lion King’ roles
- A choreographer challenges dancers tastes and himself
- Tapping into a rich history
- HW THE CKIE CRUMBLES: Who’ll win at the Golden Globes and who…
‘Stomp the Yard’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Jan 12, 2007
In the first place I couldn’t do a two-step let alone break dance which hadn’t yet been invented (or is it “discovered?”) and in the second place we got all the Columbia fraternities thrown off campus along with RTC. Sic transit gloria. Now transit “Stomp the Yard” in a new millennium where synchronized dancing and frat houses have been welcomed back to the campus for better or usually worse. In any case how can you step or stomp when lame?The script that hobbles the talented dancers of director Sylvain White’s “Yard” has DJ (Columbus Short) a street-dancing teen-in-trouble escaping his dangerous L.
Lean mean dancing machine on horizon?
St. Petersburg Times – Jan 12, 2007
Sure I used to break-dance thrilling the crowds on the mean streets of Spring Hill. And yes you're right I was the Bolivian Grand Lambada Master for four wonderful years in the early 1990s. But the lambada is "the forbidden dance. " So those skills are worthless to me now. Still I'll be flattered to break out my my my my my boogie shoes for the Spring.
SU dance still No. 1
SU – The Lantern – Jan 12, 2007
In the commercial SU dancers were able to show the world what they do. Departmental interim Chair Susan Van Pelt Petry said the university wanted to show the humanities medicine science and the arts in the commercial. A 1996 survey by Dance Teacher magazine ranked the Department of Dance’s graduate program No. 1 and undergraduate No. The small department has 82 undergraduate students and 27 graduate students said Misty Kerns undergraduate program liaison. Petry said the survey was based on “curriculum quality and visibility of faculty you know ‘big names” and that the department’s graduate students get teaching jobs in higher education almost 100 percent of the time… “I knew it was one of the top-ranked programs and it was my first choice” she said. The commercial although short showed Nagel’s beliefs to viewers. It was filmed during Christmas break and took four hours to create Petry said. “It was super fun and it was shown on national TV” said Erin Hulfitz a junior in dance who participated in the commercial. Although Hulfitz did not have a speaking part she was among the group of dancers in the background creating a cascading image of modern dance movement. Petry said department rankings are important. “Rankings are a quick easy way to say how good you are” Petry said.
Rio Mesa students to dance ‘Lion King’ roles
Camarillo Acorn – Jan 12, 2007
“I feel like I’ve learned all sorts of different kinds of dance and it’s broadened my horizons” said Sanjali a math honor student. “I feel like I’m a lot more well rounded. ” “I love dance and it’s just a way for me to relax and just let loose and take a break from all the stresses of life” said Hannah also an honor student. Senior Stephen Guyette also in the advanced class plans to follow in the steps of other former students and pursue a career in dance. He won’t allow social gender stigmas to hinder him but focuses instead on his love for dance and on industry role models such as Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The 18-year-old Guyette will audition tomorrow for California Institute of the Arts admissions representatives. Click ads belowfor larger version.
A choreographer challenges dancers tastes and himself
Boston Globe – Jan 12, 2007
"The company is touring widely. I have commissions everywhere my board is expanding and I’m making piece after piece after piece… Somehow I find that beautiful and poetic — they are always a bit out of reach. “Unlike many contemporary choreographers Petronio didn’t spend years studying different styles or dancing with other troupes. In fact he didn’t begin to dance until his freshman year at Hampshire College. But he got hooked with his first contact improvisation class and after graduation he became a member of choreographer Trisha Brown’s company for six years. He cites her and Merce Cunningham as his main influences as well as a performance of Rudolf Nureyev that he saw in his teens. Petronio’s optimism surfaces when he’s asked about his legacy. “I’d like to think that I will be responsible for making dance much more popular without it being as stupid as the dance on television” he says.
Tapping into a rich history
The Age – Jan 12, 2007
Swift is also thefounder of a hybrid tap-African dance and drumming school inAbbotsford. “The two styles are complementary” he says. “An educated tapdancer can walk into a hip-hop night and hit the floor with somebreak dancers and get respect. “We’ve got African dance and drum being taught and you see itand learn that the two styles are different physical disciplinesbut the spirit is the same. For Swift the important thing is to respect the history of tap. He has little patience with the showbiz “eyes and teeth” stylewhich he considers disconnected from its origins. His own style isrooted in the original African rhythm of tap and was inspired byblack vaudeville tappers such as the Nicholas Brothers and Bill”Bojangles” Robinson.
HW THE CKIE CRUMBLES: Who’ll win at the Golden Globes and who…
San Francisco Chronicle – Jan 12, 2007
The race pits Johnny Depp against Sacha Baron Cohen which sounds like something out of “Borat. ” My guess is that the foreign press is going to try to seem hipper than it is. Should win: Aaron Eckhart for “Thank You for Smoking” Will win: Cohen for “Borat” Supporting actress: Consider everyone on this impressive slate and I am telling you who is not going up to the podium: all the nominees who can’t belt out a ballad to break your heart. Should win: Jennifer Hudson for “Dreamgirls. ” Will win: Hudson Supporting actor: Although this race is not quite as obvious my hunch is that a lot of heavy hitters will be knocked down by a song-and-dance man. Should win: Mark Wahlberg for “The Departed” Will win: Eddie Murphy for “Dreamgirls” Director: Even though Clint Eastwood is up for two movies everything is leaning toward this being Martin Scorsese’s turn. The voters behind the Golden Globes haven’t ignored him the way Academy members shamefully have… Should win: “The Queen” (though there would be more than a little smile on my face if “Little Children” takes it) Will win: Peter Morgan for “The Queen” Foreign language: The decision to include “Apocalypto” and “Letters From Iwo Jima” both products of Hollywood in this category stacks the deck against the amazing “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Lives of thers” which actually are from foreign countries. Eastwood’s star power is likely to make his day. Should win: “The Lives of thers” Will win: “Letters From Iwo Jima” Animated film: Can a dancing penguin beat a souped-up car to the finish line? It’s sure to be a close race. Should win: “Happy Feet” Will win: “Happy Feet” riginal score: The decades-old scores from “The Godfather” and “Lawrence of Arabia” are more memorable than any of the Golden Globe nominees. I wouldn’t bet the house on my choice but here goes. Should win: Gustavo Santaolalla for “Babel” mostly because I can’t bear the idea that this deeply moving film would come away empty-handed Will win: “Babel” riginal song: I can actually hum a couple of the nominees which is more than can be said of most movie tunes in recent years. This time I think the dancing penguin searching for his song of the heart is going to come up short.