BRAVO! EW'S GUIDE TO THE WINTER/SPRING 2004 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON
EBC presents Cinderella
Feb. 28-29.
Kickin’ It
DANCE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT
THIS WINTER AND SPRING.
BY JACQUELYN LEWIS
Eugene is always an excellent place to find exciting dance
performances, from local favorites to exotic imports. It is doubtful
that many people following the city’s performing arts scene in the past
few years have been disappointed. Each season has had its own flavor, and the
coming months should prove to be no exception. We will see several big-name produc-
tions pass through, sprinkled with an equally appealing smattering of smaller scale shows —
all sure to get our hearts pounding and our blood pumping. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.
T
he Hult Center, always one of
Eugene’s best places to see dance,
will kick off 2004 when it hosts the
musical Fame on Jan.16 and Jan. 17. The
production tells the story of young hopefuls
at New York’s famous High School for the
Performing Arts. Though the musical is not
strictly a dance performance, Fame is a must-
see for dancers, aspiring dancers and dance
fans. The show boasts stellar dancers, awe-
inspiring moves and an inspirational story.
February will usher in this season’s most
exciting dance highlight when the worldly,
immensely talented Dance Theatre of
Harlem visits Eugene. The company,
founded in 1969 and predicted by The New
York Times to be “one of ballet’s most excit-
ing undertakings,” has grown into an inter-
nationally acclaimed cultural institution
and powerhouse neoclassical ballet compa-
ny, deriving its works from Balanchine to
the African Diaspora. The company has
appeared all over the world and set box
office records everywhere. Mark your cal-
endars, because Feb. 4 will be Eugene’s
only chance to see these bold, decadent
dancers, and it’s an event not to be missed!
Also on the Hult Center’s February
agenda, local youth performance group
The Edge will celebrate its 10th anniver-
sary with a high-energy performance
encompassing a wide variety of dance
styles, including tumbling and break danc-
ing. Catch this show Feb. 20.
Next, Eugene Ballet Company will add
the perfect finishing touch to an already
dance-packed month with its staging of
Cinderella on Feb. 28-29. Artistic Director
Toni Pimble and company are adept at con-
cocting the perfect mixture of modern and
classic, and Cinderella will include
Pimble’s original signature choreography
paired with the timeless Prokoviev score. In
addition, the company will treat us to its
lively Jitterbug, Jive & Jazz — a
break from classical ballet, focusing instead
on swing dance, with music from OFAM’s
Emerald City Jazz Kings. Lindy Hop to the
Hult Center April 17-18 to see and hear this
lively show.
For tickets and information on these
events, call the Hult Center Box Office at
685-5000.
The UO and LCC dance departments
will also offer up a satisfying smattering of
dance opportunities in the next few months.
The UO dance department’s all-student
produced Winter Student Dance
Concert is scheduled for Feb. 12 through
Feb. 14. Year after year, this proves to be an
innovative evening, filled with fresh works
by students, featuring their fellow students.
On March 6, Dance Africa
will present its African
Community Night in the
Dougherty Dance Theatre.
Student dancers from the compa-
ny will perform, along with
Zimbabwean guest artist Lucky
Moyo, brought to the UO with
the help of the Kutsinhira
Cultural Arts Center. This per-
formance will be a definite
stand-out for the season, provid-
ing a night of both entertainment
and education.
Paul Taylor 2 , an offshoot
of the renowned Paul Taylor
modern dance group, will visit
the UO April 26 and April 27,
providing Eugene audiences
with yet another opportunity to
see world-class talent without
leaving home.
The UO dance department
also has its annual Faculty
Dance Concert , the MFA
Project Concert , Dance
Quarterly , Loft Series and
Open Showing planned for
later. Contact the department at
346-5678 for ticket information
and a full schedule.
LCC also offers its own student dance
concert, “The Works,” April 22 to April
24. The dance department will celebrate
National Dance Week May 20-May 22 with
a cornucopia of events, including work-
shops, demonstrations and performance.
For more information on LCC dance hap-
penings, call 463-5202.
Lastly, dance students from various stu-
dios will also perform around Eugene this
season. One stand-out show will be
Musical Feet’s 26th Annual student con-
cert, “Hats Off: A Tribute to Gregory
Hines.” The tap dancers will appear at the
Hult Center in June. The date for this per-
formance hasn’t been set, so call 485-2938
for details.
The space here is too small to detail or
even mention every notable upcoming
dance event, so check EW each week for
additional coverage. I’ll do my best to keep
you updated on what’s shaping up to be a
great season.
ew
EBC & OFAM present
Jitterbug, Jive & Jazz
April 17-18.
JANUARY 8, 2004 23