Kyle Haas
In Motion Staff Writer
In conjunction with the spring open houses college-wide, the Dance Department and other art programs on campus, hosted a “soft” opening of Daytona State’s newly renovated dance studio and music listening lab.
During the event a plaque honoring the memory of Anthony L. Deni was unveiled to recognize the generous donation of more than 2,000 CDs to be used by students as part of the Music Production Technology program. A dedication ceremony also was held to christen the new Audio Listening Lab in the newly re-named Jeanne M. Goddard Center for Music and Dance, Building 230.
Later, at the News-Journal Center dozens of patrons enjoyed a matinee performance of Dancescapes’ 2017 spring concert. Come fall, the Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art, which oversees the dance, fine art and music programs, will have a formal unveiling of the new facilities.
Faculty member Kevin hosted, choreographed and directed this year’s edition of “Dancescapes,” which was absolutely breathtaking. The show consisted of 10 choreographed pieces and featured two guest schools, including Bethune-Cookman University and Valencia State College.
In all, there were six performances by DSC’s dance company. Three of the dances were choreographed by Veiga, among them “Buenos Aires,” “The Rehearsal” and a beautiful final piece titled “RISE!” Other choreographers for the production were Jennifer Kobrin, who created “Disconnect/Reconnect” and Dawn Branch who made “Is your Love Strong Enough?” Company member Jarrod Duby got to choreograph “An Unsteady Canvas.”
In regards to “An Unsteady Canvas,” Duby said “It’s about a painter and his unsteady relationship with his girlfriend and how he tries to paint her in her own little world and it’s just not working out.”
While speaking to Duby, to his delight multiple people attending the show approached him and exclaimed how amazing the performance was.
After the performance, Veiga also seemed quite satisfied with the end result. “This is the best our company has ever done, so it was really good. When you put an audience in front of them and their adrenaline starts pumping they really put everything on the line and that’s good to see.”
On the Daytona Campus, the new dance studio made its debut after spring break and has been expanded to 1,300 square feet, with diffused lighting, large mirrors and boasts new barre, which can be used as a prop to balance while doing exercises that focus on isometric strength training. Most barre-based classes use a combination of postures inspired by ballet and other disciplines like yoga and Pilates.
In addition, there is a new “sprung” floor. As Veiga explained, “It’s a dance floor that can withstand any type of dancing whether that be tap, jazz, pointe work or modern.”
He hopes the revamped, modern new quarters will attract both novices, who might only be interested in dance as a form of exercise, as well as students who want to devote their lives to the art form.
“I hope people look at dance as an opportunity to grow and look at it as art would be and not from just the entertainment aspect, also to support the art programs at the college which offers some interesting products that go beyond just the entertainment value,” he said.