Artistic Director Sara Draper is offering a unique array of dance classes this fall, focusing on the hallmark of the company's work. Dancepatheatre creates art that fuses dance and voice in performance.
Dancepatheatre is committed to assisting dancers in developing skills to speak and vocalize on stage, and to assisting singers in developing skills to move expressively on stage.
FOR CLASSICAL SINGERS:
Mondays 7:00-8:15pm @ Barnevelder
September 8 - December 8, 2008
FOR INTERMEDIATE THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DANCERS:
Wednesdays 10:00-11:30am @ Barnevelder
September 3 - October 15, 2008
Wednesdays 10:00-11:30am @ Barnevelder
October 22 - December 10, 2008
Pay schedule:
$12 per class for drop-ins
$77 per 7-week workshop
$140 per 14-week workshop
Classes take place at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex near Minute Maid Park, at 2201 Preston, Houston, Texas 77003. For directions, visit www.barnevelder.org.
Dancepatheatre began its 2007-2008 season with a performance of the production-in-progress of Al Andalus! The Legend at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex on Saturday, August 11, 2007. The performance sold out with a waiting list of one hundred. About forty individuals remained after the show to participate in the talk-back session with the creative team, and that important audience feedback is being carefully considered as the artistic team continues with the creative process.
Dancepatheatre held its annual fundraising soiree on Sunday, November 18, 2007. Our theme was medieval Andalusian in food, wine, music, entertainment and garb. Andalusian treats like red sherry wine and delicious food from Aladdin Restaurant transported our guests to medieval southern Spain. Attendees were invited to come dressed in flamenco, Middle Eastern, or generally medieval attire, or just come comfortably enough to have a wonderful time. A beautiful costume sketch for the future performances of Al Andalus! The Legend by designer Pat Covington was on display. Everyone was entertained with live music, dance, and poetry followed by an invitation to join in folk dances and to cut a (Persian) rug to some world pop.
On Saturday, January 26, 2008, professional dancers, students, and amateurs alike were invited to learn Spanish dance and Middle Eastern dance in a workshop sampling the styles of medieval Al Andalus from Houston’s experts. Dancepatheatre’s team of consultants in medieval Andalusian dance styles and history presented a day of workshops for beginners through professionals, and artistic director Sara Draper offered a modern dance – Andalusian Fusion class for intermediate, advanced and professional dancers.
Dancepatheatre visited Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on March 18 & 19, 2008. Sara Draper and Kristina Koutsoudas taught master classes in Middle Eastern and Modern-Andalusian Fusion to dance program students; Al Andalus Project musician Khaled Al Jamal taught Middle Eastern music classes; and cast members Leah Bauer, Linda Gomez and Jonathan Gutierrez joined the others and music director Sharon Joy in a lecture demonstration, performing music and dance numbers from Al Andalus! The Legend.
Dr. Sharon Joy gave a multi-media presentation at Research Day, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA on March 20, 2008.
Director/Choreographer Sara Draper and Music Director/Composer Sharon Joy spoke about the multi-cultural issues and successes of Al Andalus! The Legend, a multi- disciplinary dance epic that celebrates a historic time of peace on April 19, 2008. The lecture was presented by SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research). In this special SIETAR presentation, Ms. Draper and Dr. Joy discussed video clips from the project. They described the unique intercultural experiences and challenges that were encountered in bringing together this diverse group of artists and shared their vision for the future of the project.
Dancers Leah Bauer and Richard Hubscher performed the Despair Duet from Al Andalus! The Legend in the Dance Gathering, an event of the Big Range Dance Festival, at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex on June 8, 2008.
