2008 Woodie Awards
Fall semester ends on good step
Glen Sovian
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Entertainment
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The one-hour showcase featured creative choreography in both group and individual performances by Brookhaven dancers and guest artists from the Dallas Power House of Dance Performing Company and Skyline High School.
The first performance, "For You," a modern piece choreographed by Shanon Tate, started with Brittany Hagan's brief intro to Ray Charles' "A Song For You."
The pace picked up on a more vibrant tune with James Brown's "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" and finished off on a cheerful note with Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold On Me."
Anna Marie Ewert-Pittman, choreographer, constructed "Danach" with a dark, abstract techno music typical of the electronic artist Ekkehard Ehlers.
With the dancers constantly sprinting all over the stage, the chaotic scene felt somewhat lengthy and left to the audience imagination what it meant. It seemed to focus on the elusive relationship between dancers Ashley Chinn and Trace Rogers.
Romance drew the audience in with the flirtatious, fun-filled "Love Struck," a jazz piece beautifully choreographed by Eva O'Brien, with music by Finger Eleven.
This piece centered on Hagan and her partner Samuel Hoops. The other dancers paired up separately. However, with only two male dancers, the lack of matching male companions made the other pairs a little awkward.
Leslie Gutierrez and Hoops portrayed the most romantic duo in "Fly Me" by choreographer Michelle Sherrill.
The contemporary jazz stayed close to the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's "Someone To Watch Over Me" and "Fly Me To The Moon." Hoops added some aesthetic touches with enchanting displays of leaps, turns, tour de promenade and a bluebird lift.
On solo performances, Sherrill drew her choreography from two traditional classical ballet repertoires, performed by the Dallas Power House dancers.
Montana Michniak, 12, was graceful in her solo, Variation from "Don Quixote," restaged after Marius Petipa. Her sharp, solid showcase of arabesque poses, pirouettes and grand jeté accentuated the expression of beauty in movement.
Unlike Michniak, Katie Callison, 14, chose a flowing, more lyrical approach to Variation from "Sylvia," restaged after Balanchine. Her smooth execution of piqué and chaînés turns and maneuver of relevé were fun to watch.
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