By Orion Christy
Last month, on a Friday evening, DSC students of the studio classes in ballet, jazz tap, composition, and modern dance all gathered to perform talented choreography from their respective disciplines at the News Journal Center.
Before the show, anxiously lying in wait, former Dancescapes performer (from 2005-2007), and professional dancer/student, Simeon Newton said that he was “really excited to see current awesome dancers.”
When the show began, the auditorium was about 3/4s full of similar audience members, anxious to see the imminent performance. They were almost immediately given that opportunity with the show’s acts ranging from hip hop numbers to romantic duets, to even an interpretive piece featuring four young vixens battling for a seat in a folding chair. That was all in the first act no less.
Directors Samantha Stern, Carla Lester, and numerous others behind the scenes assisted in providing an entertaining and pleasant show that the entire audience seemed enthusiastic about. Two local community members in the audience agreed in describing the movements before them, on stage as “wonderful, graceful, and elegant,” during an intermission.
The evening contained a total of ten renditions, all of them thoroughly captivating the onlookers – made evident by the numerous smart-phones recording the show.
Sunday afternoon, April 14, the News-Journal Center proved a fitting substitute for church when the DSC Popular Vocal Ensemble and Concert Choir bestowed their expressive talents to a captive audience.
The afternoon’s show began, when the two groups of 30+ members came out, and the afternoon’s opening rendition of “Zadok the Priest” sounded. As the show continued, Dr. Norton Christenson, director, would introduce the first pieces with an amiable factoid or humorous quip, earning a light chuckle from the onlookers. Said shows consisted of familiar versions of familiar music, like Fun, from Sweeney Todd and Glee, numerous gospel numbers, as well as several solo acts, not expressly scheduled on the program, but enjoyable nonetheless.
After the show, as the audience poured out, the consensus reaction of the show was “awesome and well done,” as stated by several attendants, this also made evident by the resounding cries of “bravo” after every act. Overall, it was a very pleasing and exquisitely performed show.
For more information about these or any future performances, please contact the News-Journal Center box office at 386-226-1888.