Hofstra to present spring Dance Concert

The Island Now

Hofstra University’s Dance Program will debuts its annual Spring Dance Concert at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse on Thursday, April 16 with two shows at 2 and 8 p.m. Two shows will follow on Friday, April 17 with one show at 2 p.m. on both Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20.  

Hofstra faculty choreographers include Robin Becker, Stormy Brandenberger, Anita Feldman, Ellie Kusner, and Heather Waldon.

This year’s spring concert features guest choreographer Earl Mosley, founder and artistic director of the not-for-profit Diversity of Dance, Inc. and its programs: Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts (EMIA) and Hearts of Men (HOM). 

EMIA is celebrating its 10th season as one of the nation’s leading new summer intensives, serving more than 175 students annually. 

In 2014, HOM launched its very successful inaugural season as a summer intensive serving more than 50 male dancers of all ages in an intergenerational community of brotherhood through dance.

Mosely has taught at some of the most noted conservatories and institutions of higher learning, including Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, the Joffrey Ballet School, SUNY/Purchase, Ohio University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Yale University. He is currently on the faculty of Montclair State University, New York University and the Ailey School.

Mosley was named Teacher of the Year by Dance Teacher magazine in 2005. He will be a part of the Brooklyn Dance Festival in April 2015, having a new work performed at BAM’s Fisher Theater and the Summer Stage NYC Series, June 20, 2015.

 The Pieces:

“Come As You Are” is a new work choreographed by Heather Waldon. She comments: “About the time I joined Boston Ballet, Grunge was emerging and becoming influential. I often found myself listening to Nirvana on my Walkman while preparing for ballets like Swan Lake – an interesting juxtaposition. While I loved the rawness and growling sounds of Grunge, I was also attracted to other artists of that time who experimented and created their own signature works. “Come As You Are” is a collage of influences.”

Robin Becker has restaged “Doorways,” originally created in 1994. During the development of the choreography, the dancers explored various portals or doorways to relationship: relationships with ourselves, others, society, work, and the larger universe. The dance is from a series called “Dances from Rumi.” Jelaluddin Rumi was a 13th century mystical Persian poet, who is known for beginning the Mevlevi Order of the Whirling Dervishes in Turkey. Currently, Rumi is one of the most widely read poets in the United States.

“Lost Edges” is choreographed by Stormy Brandenberger and will be performed to an original score composed and performed by Arthur Solari. The concept of “lost edges” has been used by visual artists to help give the illusion of depth of space and form, by fading the edges furthest from the viewer’s eye in a composition. This choreographic abstract work reflects upon the sense of loss implicit in our environment and human life within time and space.

Anita Feldman, director of the Dance Education Program, is the choreographer of ¡Por la Vida! (To Life), a modern tap dance work set to music by new music vocalist Meredith Monk. The work was inspired by one of Monk’s songs, “Little Breath,” and also by the boisterous, gregarious, cautious, colorful wildlife appreciated on a trip to Costa Rica.

Eleanor Kusner has created “That You are Here” with music by Andreas Brade. Through the use and deployment of postmodern composition methodologies – inversion, retrogradation, chance, re-appropriation, accidental encounter, chaos, etc. “That You are Here” investigates the variability of human experience. In one gesture or with one sound, scenarios move, for example, from whimsical to tragic or hostile to congenial.

“I See You,” by guest choreographer FredrickEarl Mosley, is a cool and funky piece full of dynamic punch and athletic energy that pushes the dancers to shine while grooving to the outrageous rhythms and the mesmerizing music of the group, The Art of Noise. The piece is a full company work that reveals power in numbers while also showcasing each dancer to look their best.

 Tickets are $12; $10 for senior citizens (over 65) or matriculated, non-Hofstra students with ID. Members of the Hofstra community may receive up to two free tickets upon presentation of a current HofstraCard. For tickets call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644 Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. or purchase online at Hofstratickets.com. If available, tickets will also be sold at the door by cash or check only, starting 90 minutes prior to show time.

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