[New post] College Spring Dance Festival ready for 2023
K.C. Meadows posted: "In preparation for Mendocino College's 41 st Spring Dance Festival and keeping in mind that the college is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Eryn Schon- Brunner, professor of dance and festival director, did a retrospective of past performances going b" The Ukiah Daily Journal
In preparation for Mendocino College's 41 st Spring Dance Festival and keeping in mind that the college is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Eryn Schon- Brunner, professor of dance and festival director, did a retrospective of past performances going back to 1982, to Leslie Saxon-West's first production in Lake County, prior to the construction of the Ukiah campus.
"I grew up here and remember being inspired throughout my childhood by the women who danced in the spring festivals, and I recognize the names of teachers, friends and others I knew," she says.
Schon-Brunner explains that the festival originally incorporated community and cultural dance but about 8 or 9 years ago, when she began teaching, they transitioned into student-based productions. Dancers in her choreography class were able to present their work on stage and "take their piece from I-don't-know- what-I-am-doing to a final production, being able to set lights, choose costumes, edit music and direct each other. It's a thrill to watch their whole creative process be born and presented."
Dancers in Venus, a piece choreographed by Randi Page: Kayla Harrison, Percy Knutson, Jacob Kubin, Jennifer Lolley, Rocio Ramos, Ari Sunbeam, Megan Youell. (Some dancers are not shown.) "Dance is a language; it's really powerful having other people feel what you feel, communicating and being heard in that way. I feel understood when people dance what I've created," says Page. photos by Karen Rifkin
Megan Youell, who received a Studio Arts degree from the college last year, has three pieces in the show, one of which is called Retribution, a contemporary, pop culture work she choreographed about climate change, inspired by music of Derek Gripper and Mike Block.
She molded the piece around the song, listening, envisioning the movement in her head and how she wanted the dancers to move; male and female dancers represent the wrath of nature and one male dancer, Ari Sunbeam, represents the destruction wrought by mankind.
"It's how I feel that nature would dance," she says.
And have they fulfilled your vision?
"Yes, it's been a group effort and I appreciate them all; together they look so beautiful."
Randi Page, a student at the college since 2019, is the recipient of this year's Kayla Grace Chesser Scholarship, an award that goes to an individual who has shown significant growth and has contributed not only to the college but to the greater dance community, specifically, in this case, to the children at SPACE, taking their art out into the public.
As a performer, working with peers, Page says, "I get an opportunity to step into the other person's mind and how they feel things, much different from choreographing my own piece.
"Dance is a language, the most uncensored way I communicate, the most easily I can convey. It's really powerful having other people feel what you feel, communicating and being heard in that way. I feel understood when people dance what I've created."
Venus is one of two pieces they choreographed, inspired by the song of Lady Gaga, energetic, with a unique style. The first time putting their own creation on stage, Page says that it has taken a great deal of work to come to fruition.
"Once you put the choreography out there, the dancers will interpret and perform it in their own way; you don't have control over that. There's that aspect of letting go; it will turn out differently than how it looks in your head and you have to accept that if you want your piece to make it on to the stage."
Rocio Ramos, originally from L.A., has been a student at the college, on and off, for a long time.
"When I moved here, I found this amazing community of dancers and like- minded people that has kept me anchored. Dance is life, a way to release the stress and a way to build relationships beyond the college community, especially important to me since I didn't grow up here."
Her choreographed piece Ayer, Hoy, Manana, soft Folklorico, is inspired by daily life in Mexico, its culture and aesthetics— colorful, vibrant and full of life. Next fall, after an absence of ten years, she will be teaching a Ballet Folklorico class at the college.
"I think the community is missing that piece of cultural representation and now there's a whole new group that can carry on this legacy and hopefully inspire others to be a part of it."
She explains that as a choreographer, she brings her vision to the table, incorporates everyone's ideas and collectively they come up with a rough draft.
"The dancers make it their own; it's a group effort with Eryn's input and suggestions; the process of questioning clarifies my own vision and makes it more solid."
As the dancers warm up and the strobe lights are adjusted for the next number, Schon-Brunner talks about being a dance teacher.
"I love to watch art, the choreography, come alive. It's one of the most exciting things about my job, to offer my students the opportunity to express their own voices and manifest their own visions. In dance, they are able to express their thoughts non-verbally, sometimes being able to say things they couldn't necessarily say with words.
"It's a process of self-discovery and a refinement of their tool—themselves. As they grow, they learn how to represent, to share to articulate themselves. We can take that anywhere; it doesn't ever leave us, so valuable in anything we do, right?
Student dancers/choreographers include Megan Youell, Percy Knutson, Ari Sunbeam, Jennifer Lolley, Alex Marsh, Randi Page, Rocio Ramos, Kayla Harrison, Jacob Kubin, and Yves Charles. The show also includes performance pieces by Eddie Vedolla, Kristen Turner, Julie Castello and Juvenal Vasquez.
Festival performances will be held at the Mendocino College Center of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre on May 4 th , 5th, 6 th at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 th at 2:00 p.m. On May 5 th at 7:00 p.m., prior to the performance, there will be a preshow Scholarship Gala with wine and hors d'oeuvres catered by the college's culinary students. Tickets are $10 for all ages available at Mendocino Book Company, online at www.artsmendocino.edu. or by calling 707 468-3079. Tickets will be sold at the door, if available, cash or check only.
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