Our intern Jake McIntyre writes about the upcoming Inside Dance event, which is free and open to the public. More details are in his blog post below.
If you enjoy ballet, you undoubtedly get the basics: the athleticism, music and costumes. But have you ever wondered what the choreographer’s message or point is or how the dancers can even do that? Don’t be embarrassed because many of us feel that way somtimes. Segerstrom Center has answers for you with a special free Inside Dance event led by dance historian and interim Associate Dean of the College of the Arts at California State University, Long Beach, Cyrus Parker-Jeanette. Inside Dance will be held Saturday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. in Samueli Theater. This will be an animated, interactive and informal discussion, full of demonstrations by local dancers, Lisa Ushino, Bernadette Torres and Ya Xi Fu.
Cyrus will lead the audience through the changing trends in ballet, from classical to contemporary, with the dancers performing examples of each style. The excerpts will be choreographed by Lorin Johnson, a professor of dance at CSULB. Lorin is a former dancer with San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and a wonderful teacher. I’ve had the pleasure of taking one of his classes, and I am excited to see the works he has created.
Inside Dance is perfect for anyone who likes ballet and/or dance and wants to learn more. While this event is free, you will need to reserve a ticket for you and your friends. To reserve a ticket for Inside Dance, call (714) 556-2787.
Photos
Top image: (L to R) Bernadette Torres, Lorin Johnson, Lisa Ushino and Ya Xi Fu
Lower image: Lisa Ushino(front) and Ya Xi Fu (behind)
Members of the Costa Mesa City Council received special gifts from the children of Sonora Elementary on Tuesday, April 19. The youngsters - Russel Zuniga , Samantha Nguyen , Lesly Marin, Tristin Taber, Sarah Ashley and Kaelee Mills - joined Sonora Principal Christine Anderson, teachers Peggy Roberts and Terri Munroe and the Center's Vice President, Education Talena Mara to underscore the importance of the arts in their school work. Anderson and Mara explained the seven-year partnership between Sonora and Segerstrom Center's ArtsConnect education program. The teaching artists of ArtsConnect work with students and teachers during special residencies. These have included composing, puppetry and, most recently, ceramics. The artists show how these arts disciplines and forms relate to and enhance other core curriculum, such as history, social studies, reading, creative writing and science. The children presented each councilmember with one of their creations made in the ceramics class.
