News

Orchesis Spring Dance Performance

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 10:59:03

The Orchesis Spring Dance Performance features a variety of modern, contemporary, and jazz dance. The show features choreography by dance faculty, Therese Young and Gabrielle McNeillie and student choreographers including two works from one of the graduating Seniors Marissa Bragg. Marissa performs her own choreography in a contemporary solo and choreographed a group piece entitled “Into My Deepest Dreams” which was recently performed at the American College Dance Association regional conference in Eugene, Oregon.

The Company is composed of 20 students, most are majoring or minoring in dance, although that is not a requirement to audition. Orchesis dance company is open to any CWU student with previous dance experience. Auditions are the day before fall quarter begins and again before the start of winter quarter. For more information check the company face book page at https://www.facebook.com/cwuorchesisdanceco.

Works in Progress show

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:14:19

Dance Science and Somatics Educators Organization

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 11:05:23

Hosted by Gabrielle McNeillie of the Central Washington University Dance Program,

The Dance Science and Somatics Educators Organization presents a series of three virtual sessions on a range of current research and topics in the field. Session one on June 13 will be a panel presentation on Re-examining Representation and Equity in Dance Science and Somatic Education. Session two on July 11 will be a presentation on Kinetic Awareness®: A Sensory Experience, and Somatic Pedagogy by Dr. Jill Green, our Guest Presenter. Session three on August 8, will include a series of presentations by current educators in the field on a wide range of research topics with time for inquiry and reflection. For more information and to register for a session go to wwwdancescienceandsomatics.com .

Orchesis Dance Company Fall 2021 auditions

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:55:58

Don't miss the Orchesis dance company fall auditions for the 2021-2022 academic year, in Nicholson Pavilion dance studio Rm. 106. Previous dance experience required. No need to prepare anything in advance, but come prepared to learn and perform several short combinations in the styles of modern, jazz and/or ballet. Please bring dance shoes if possible.

Summer Dance Classes 2021

Fri, 21 May 2021 10:15:20

Summer Dance Classes

Hay There Choreography in New York show

Fri, 21 May 2021 10:12:37

Dance Choreographed by CWU Professor to be Live Streamed from New York

Thursday, May 20, 2021

A performance of Central Washington University Associate Professor of Dance Therese Young’s dance, Hay There, will be live streamed on May 24 at 8 p.m. by the Emerging Artists Theatre Company from its headquarters in New York.

The nine-minute work, choreographed by Young, will be performed by members of CWU’s 2020 Orchesis Dance Company Dancers, including: Sydney Baker, Marissa Bragg, Bailey Erwin, lyanno Ford, Raymond Glover, Jessica Graham, Brenna Lindstrom, Tyler Lovie, Elysabeth Rada, Monica Rodriguez, Katelin Smith-Rockne, Hailey Samarel, Maddie Stauffer, Katelyn Stewart, Jaelynn Tonder, Emma Tyree, and Aislinn Williamson.

The work is one of four new works being live streamed by the theatre company, which supports artists and new works. For ticket information, go to https://newworkseries.com/product/an-evening-of-dance-and-theatre/.

“Outside of Seattle lies Hay Valley, a place I’ve lived for 25 years; it is culturally relevant to our land and a major part of our economy,” Young explained. “Every spring as I drive through the valley, I have thought about developing a piece that encapsulates the beauty of the growth process. My hope was to show the spirit of the hay as a living entity, taking us through its stages of life using human movement.”

In March 2020, Hay There was selected for the Final Gala Performance at the North West Regional American College Dance Association conference in Spokane, WA.

Additional credits: Faculty music provided Mother Nature by Anonma; harvesting material and heading home supplied by Clinton Shorter; lighting design by Christina Barrigan; and video editing by Marcus DeSieno. Videos were provided by the National Archives.

Media contact: Richard Moreno, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-2714, Richard.Moreno@cwu.edu.

Orchesis Dance Performance

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:54:18

Information also available at https://www.facebook.com/cwuorchesisdanceco

Annual CWU Orchesis Dance Company Spring Performance will be held at the McConnell Theater starting Thursday April 22 through Saturday April 24th at 7:30 each evening.There is in person limited seating and the performance will be live-streamed. Currently, there is no ticketing available at CWU due to a change in agency. We would appreciate your support with a $10 suggested donation. To donate see directions below.

1. Go to: https://www.cwu.edu/p/give
2. Scroll down and click: "Give to CWU" button
A box will open
3. Enter a donation amount
4. Choose “other” under the designation drop-down list
5. Enter: CWU Orchesis Dance Company
6. Then complete remainder of the form with contact information or choose “remain anonymous”.
7. Click secure payment.

Live stream links:
Thursday:
https://www.cwu.edu/theatre/orchesis-thrusday-stream

Friday:
https://www.cwu.edu/theatre/orchesis-friday-stream

Saturday:
https://www.cwu.edu/theatre/orchesis-saturday-stream

Program link: https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fdocument%2Fd%2F15Fib3ghxQQhkoB6fM2axpimAvZyleXEAKJCxREdjzbw%2Fedit%3Fusp%3Dsharing&data=04%7C01%7CTherese.Young%40cwu.edu%7C032dee389381488de83508d90450502d%7Cf891d6c191d6444ba700d371910716c7%7C0%7C0%7C637545565246005704%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=RADwhqM6VkPB%2FwRrIVQes9mDXIpUJPpsUeLovMG0AMQ%3D&reserved=0

ACDA Gala Performance

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:04:33

Saturday, March 14

Congratulations to CWU Dance Program Director, Therese Young, whose piece of choreography entitled “Hay There" was selected for the Gala Performance at the American College Dance Association NW regional conference in Spokane. The Gala performance is an adjudicated process where the top 8 pieces are chosen for the final conference performance out of submissions from Universities across the Northwest. The choreography was performed by the CWU Orchesis Dance Company.

West African Dance & Drumming Workshop

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:03:59

Join Master teacher Darryl Thomas, a performer with Kankouran West African Dance Company based in Washington DC who has studied Senegalese dance and drumming, as he teaches the movements and rhythms of West Africa in the Nicholson Pavilion Dance Studio 106. Free. Sponsored by Dance Program/CEPS.

Friday:
1-2:30 Master dance class
3-4:30 Drumming class

Saturday
9:00-10:30 Drumming class
10:30-12:00 Master dance class
1-2:30 Lecture demonstration including dancers and drummers

* djembe drums will be provided for the first 25 people or bring your own.

OCEANS Flamenco Performance

Thu, 23 May 2019 11:39:56

Seattle-based Flamenco artist, Savannah Fuentes brings her latest her work, Oceans, Flamenco en Vivo. to Central Washington University May 31st. The water-themed presentations will feature singer/percussionist Jose Moreno and guitarist Pedro Cortes. Both musicians are third generation Spanish Flamenco artists and reside in New York City. The all-ages performance will be the fifth engagement of a 29-date that tour that begins in Bellingham and ends in Southern California.
Savannah is available for interviews, complete tour information below

Central Washington University
CWU NPV Dance Studio 106
May 30th, 7:30 p. m.
general admission $22, VIP reserved seating $34, student $12
tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com
"Real flamenco. straight up and stunning"
Regina Hackett, The Seattle P.I.

Savannah Fuentes, born in Seattle to parents of Puerto Rican and Irish ancestry, is one of the only touring artists in the Pacific Northwest region with strong links to Flamenco culture. She studies both baile (flamenco dance) and cante (flamenco singing) and has toured throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona. She has independently produced over 300 performances and workshops featuring internationally recognized Spanish Flamenco Artists such as Jose Anillo, Saray Munoz, Jesus Montoya, and Juanarito. She has studied with artists such as Guadiana, Joaquin Grilo, Eva Yerbabuena, El Farru, and Isabel Bayon. She attributes her formation as an artist to her most significant mentor, Maestra Sara de Luis. She continues to evolve as an innovator and performance artist.

Pedro Cortes

Guitarist
www.pedrocortes.com
Pedro Cortes, Comes from a family of Spanish Gypsy guitarists and began his studies with his father and the esteemed Flamenco guitarist Sabicas. Having toured professionally since the age of 17, he is gaining international recognition as a soloist and composer. He has premiered his work En la oscuridad de las minas at the Teatro Albeniz in Madrid, he had works premiered by the Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company at the Joyce Theater in New York. He has two books on Flamenco, El Dron del Faraon and Cruzando el Charco, published by the American Institute of Guitar. Mr. Cortes, was commissioned by the Cohen Brothers to compose music for the film Paris Je TAime .He also wrote music for a childrens program on H B O called Fairy tale for Every Child. He has toured with Jose Greco and Maria Benitez, La Conja and has performed with such artists as Farrucita, La Tati, Merche Esmeralda, Manolete and the late Lola Flores. He has been guest artist with the St. Louis Opera and the New York Grand Opera, and has been commissioned by and performed as Musical Director with the Guthrie Theater In Garcia Lorcas BODAS DE SANGRE. Mr. Cortes is artistic director of his own Flamenco group, and also Musical Director of Palo Seco. Cortes is a third generation Flamenco guitarists and uses the experience passed down to him by his family to maintain the purity of Flamenco while creating new compositions.
Jose Moreno
Singer/ Percussionist/ Guitarist/ Dancer)
www.josemorenoflamenco.com
Born into a family of famous flamenco artists Estrella Morena (dancer) and Pepe de Málaga (singer), Jose began his flamenco career during his childhood years. His debut was at the famous Tablao flamenco Costa Vasca. Jose continued his studies with the Great Manolete, Farruquito, and Andres Marin and Cajon Percussion with Manuel Soler. Jose has been invited to perform in various companies around the world, and with distinguished artists such as: The Great Manolete, Joaquin Ruiz, Pastora Galvan, Jose Cortes Pansequito, Jose de Luna, Jose Luis Rodriquez, Roberto Castellon, Pedro Cortes, Jose Valle Chuscales, Basilio Garcia, Paco Heredia, Elena Andujar, Carmen Ledesma, Jesus Montoya, Zorongo Flamenco Dance, La Tania, Miguel Vargas, Nelida Tirado, Antonio Hidalgo, Curro Cueto, Gonzalo Grau, Edwin Aparicio, Amparo Heredia, Antonio Granjero, Angel Muñoz, Charo Espino, Omayra Amaya and many other outstanding performers
In 2001, Jose choreographed and performed a collaborative work with his mother Estrella Morena, and with renowned flamenco singer Carmen Linares with the New World Symphony Orquestra at Lincoln Theater. In 2004 choreographed works and performed with the Boston Flamenco Ballet, In 2007, Jose performed with the internationally known Isabel Pantoja, and with David Bisbal in Premios lo Nuestro. In 2010 performed in the 7th annual Panama Jazz Festival, also that same year at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City, in 2013 in Zorro The Musical at the Alliance Theatre, the BAM theatre in New York City with Flamenco Vivo Dance Company , and most recently in the 2014-2015 season of Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the 2015-2016 season of Carmen at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the Washington National Opera.