I attended this year’s concert with my friend Stefanie, who also used to participate in the show. The dance pieces included primarily modern dance, with a bit of humor and theatrics thrown in. My favorite pieces included Caution: Men at Work, You & I, and Big Bang.

Caution: Men at Work was choregraphed by Darryl Thomas, and included an all-male cast, who showed different every-day careers through dance. The curtain opened to reveal a construction worker fixing lighting onstage and a police officer eating donuts. The entire routine was very masculine, and included breakdancing and even acrobatics. It was very impressive to see a group of men dancing together- and I think they portrayed each career they represented very accurately.

You and I was choreographed by Deborah Jones, and was one of my favorite pieces as it told a heartworming story. It almost felt a little bit like a play, because all of the dancers played one character throughout the entire piece. I interpreted this piece to be about guardian angels, as it showed dancers followed by others dressed in all white. The story also showed these guardian angels helping people with such life experiences as conflicts and first loves. It was a wonderfully intricate piece!

The Big Bang piece was choreographed by Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas, and showed the idea of the big bang theory through dance (that was my interpretation anyway). It showed all stages of life, from fish to monkeys to humans. There was a lot of humor in this piece as well, as the dancers acted like monkeys as they interacted with one another. It was very funny and also realistic at the same time.

If you missed the Spring Dance Concert this year, be sure to check it out next year. It’s a great show every time!

I have always been intrigued by the idea behind PICA’s Time-Based Art Festival, and was completely ecstatic when I found out I’d have the opportunity to check it out this year. I left my house in Salem at around 7 pm on Sunday night, and traveled up to Portland State University. Note: If you have never visited Portland State, keep in mind that the campus is set up differently than other state colleges (the campus buildings are spread out between local shops and restaurants). Also be sure to find out the name of the hall you are planning to visit before you arrive. I found this out the hard way, by getting lost and running six blocks in high heels to make it in time for the show. By the time I found Lincoln Hall, I’d had quite a nice tour of the PSU campus. Luckily, I made it in the nick of time.

I attended a modern dance performance choreographed by Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey. The Zoe Scofield, Juniper Shuey and Morgan Henderson company is based in Seattle, but travels throughout the Pacific Northwest. This piece, entitled “The Devil You Know is Better Than the Devil You Don’t” abstractly explored such concepts as adolescent group dynamics; how and why people fall into or push each other into the roles of leader, follower and outcast. This show was different than others I’d seen, as they also incorporated video. Images projected above and around the dancers, creating a very different dynamic. The dancers were all dressed in brightly-colored, flowy costumes, and the images projected were very dark and somewhat hazy.

For those ballet lovers out there, a great deal of this piece incorporated ballet movements and technique, which made each of the dancer’s movements appear effortless. There were also quite a few tricks involved, including “partnering”, where two dancers hold one another’s body weight to create different shapes and lifts. The music throughout the show was relatively calm and quiet until the finale, where it transformed into the steady beat of a drum. I love fast-paced dance styles, so I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the momentum of the music pick up along with the movements in the dance. As far as interpreting the story behind this piece, it seemed as though it may have had something to do with the fight between good and evil (I came to this conclusion after seeing an emphasis on light and dark colors, and a combination of tense and relaxed movements.)

Note: While the performing arts are a great activity for all ages, a small portion of this particular show may not be appropriate for children. I would recommend bringing teens, but leaving the little ones at home.

After the show ended, I met up with my friend Stefanie for dessert. We wandered around the streets of Portland for a while until we stumbled across Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar, which just so happens to be an Oregon Bounty participant! Their desserts are amazing- I would highly recommend visiting there, even if you can only stay for dessert and a cup of coffee or wine. I had a heavenly chocolate-filled tart, topped with carmelized bananas and cream. Stefanie had a warm chocolate-filled crostata with lemon gelato, which was equally as heavenly. I am definitely going to be back!

All in all, it was a fabulous evening out on the town in Portland. I hope to have an art and dessert-filled evening again very soon!

For more information on future performances by Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey, please visit their myspace page. Or, for information on the arts in Portland, please visit our Upcoming Events section.

I have always admired the cultural diversity of Eugene. Not to mention the arts around every corner- it’s like heaven to be surrounded by theater, music and art. I recently had an opportunity to see such culture in action, at Phenomenon Hip Hop Company’s “VIP” show. This show was held at the Hult Center, a well-known venue in the Eugene area.

What I enjoyed most about this show was the variety of ways hip hop dance was shown and expressed. Some of the dance pieces told a specific story, while others focused on the history and evolution of hip hop dance, or were solely created for entertainment purposes. The phenomenon dancers started off the show by jumping along the isles near the audience, dressed in bright green jungle attire. This piece was very entertaining, especially since the dancers interacted with the audience.

Another piece showcased individuals walking down a city street- everyone from business professionals to homeless individuals to bank robbers were represented in the dance. It put a spin on the activities we’re involved in each day, by adding a special “hip hop flavor”. Another piece focused solely on breakdancers. About four or five dancers collaborated and played off of one another’s movements, creating very unique choreography. There were even a few head spins!

In addition to that, the phenomenon dancers also created a piece representing the death and rebirth of hip hop. This dance began in a somber fashion, and became gradually more upbeat as the piece evolved; the dancers first arrived on stage in black hooded sweatshirts and moved across the stage very slowly, to emphasize this story.

I enjoyed these particular dance pieces, as the choreography and stories involved were very sophisticated and intelligent. Not only were the dancers having a blast on stage, they were also telling stories the audience could relate to.

Phenomenon is a Eugene-based company, directed by Vanessa Fuller. The company participates in a variety of performances at the Hult Center and surrounding areas. They have two shows coming up this summer: On August 18th, the company will be participating in a community event under the Washington Jefferson Bridge. For more information on Phenomenon’s upcoming shows, visit www.phenomenonhiphop.com.

For more information on dance companies in Oregon, check out our Trips We Love section.

Ballerinas, tap dancers, and breakers oh my!

This year’s Spring Dance Concert took place at Western Oregon University, in the Rice Auditorium (a cozy venue with a great view no matter where you sit). The concert itself consisted of approximately twelve separate dance pieces, choreographed by both professors and dance students at the university.

As a former WOU student, I was ecstatic to visit the same stage I had the pleasure to dance on once upon a time. Although I enjoyed all of the dances, my favorites consisted of “Wired for Sound”, choreographed by Sharon Oberst; “Limit Break”, choreographed by Samuel Hobbs; and “Man of My Dreams”, choreographed by Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas.

“Wired for Sound” was especially unique, as each of the dancers moved with wireless flex sensors and accelerometers attached to their backs. These sensors connected to a nearby computer, creating music based on the speed of each dancer’s movement. This was a ballet piece, but the music was very modern (almost like techno music) which gave the dance a very funky, upbeat feeling. It was refreshing to see ballet portrayed in a non-traditional fashion.

“Limit Break” was a style dancers refer to as “thrash jazz”, as all of their movements were very sharp and precise. The music that accompanied this routine was rock music, which gave the dance a very rough-and-tough attitude. I would love to learn a dance like that to get some aggression out!

“Man of My Dreams” was one of the funniest dance pieces I’ve seen in a long time. The audience expected to see a traditional love story, but what we ended up seeing was far from that assumption. There were two main dancers, a man and a woman, who danced together and “mocked” the components of a traditional ballet. At one point during the piece, they danced behind the main stage, in what looked like a window. They danced together, and it ended up looking like the two dancers switched legs! This type of humor could be found throughout the entire piece. They were later joined by a group of dancers on scooters, who were dressed as half women and half men. I didn’t realize this at the beginning, because the dancers rode in sideways on their scooters, and we didn’t see that they were dressed this way until they switched directions.
-Reviews by Ashley Moran

It is not often that you find a group of non-professional male dancers that are truly entertaining. But, that is exactly what I found at Western Oregon Universities’ Spring Dance Concert. The all-male piece entitled “Men Dancing: Back in the Game,” shattered my stereotypical view (typically not good dancers) of non-professional male dancers. The piece was choreographed by Darryl Thomas in collaboration with the dancers and incorporated humor, strength and tons of energy to make it really enjoyable to watch. What impressed me the most was the quality of movement each dancer displayed. You could tell these men were there because they enjoyed what they were doing. Hopefully these kind of great performances inspire more young men to take up dancing.
-Review by Amy Nyberg

For more information on dance performances in Oregon, please visit our Arts and Culture section.

Oregon offers a wide variety of dance classes, as well as fantastic live shows ranging from ballet to hip hop to modern and ballroom. Since the team at Travel Oregon is celebrating the arts this month, it seemed only fitting to share a personal dance class experience.

I’ve been in love with dance for as long as I can remember- I was “that girl” who choreographed routines to country music for the second grade talent show. And I loved every minute of it. My adolescence and early college years were filled with memories of dance team, and a few moments under the spotlight. Not to mention a few memories of torn muscles and mysterious bruises, commonly referred to as “war wounds”. Since then, it has become slightly more difficult to leap from one side of the gym to the other, and splits are something I only dream of. Luckily, after months of searching for an adult dance class to sharpen my moves, I was ecstatic to find a hip hop workout class through the community courses at Chemeketa Community College.

Chemeketa’s Hip Hop Workout is taught by Trinisha Wyatt, a former Blazer dancer. Her energy and passion for dance make this class enjoyable, and very easy to learn. This class is perfect for first-time dancers as well as veterans, as the class contains a mix of choreographed dances and technique. The dances are taught with options to simplify the movement or increase difficulty, based on each dancer’s preference.

If you’re an Oregonian looking for a fun, fast-paced workout, give this class a try. Or if you’re just visiting for a few weeks, stop by and see what Oregon dance classes are all about. Each set of classes run for 5-6 weeks, which could be the perfect accent to a relaxing vacation. Trinisha also teaches single day hip hop classes at the Courthouse Athletic Club in Salem. You’ll have a blast, and even pick up a few moves to show your friends.

Join us and bust a move!
-Ashley

For more information on dance in Oregon, please visit our Trips We Love section. To find out about participating in one of Trinisha Wyatt’s dance classes, please visit Chemeketa Community College.

I arrived at the Keller Auditorium in Portland on Sunday afternoon- which is a wonderful venue, because there’s not a bad seat in the house- and enjoyed an afternoon full of exquisite dancing and a heartfelt story. I was incredibly impressed by the set design of this particular Nutcracker, as it was very intricate. As the children peered through the front door of the house on this set, you could see through it and gaze at the brightly-colored Christmas tree, as well as all the contents of the house. This show also incorporated a tiny yet extravagent boat, which transported the children to and from their dreamland. Not to mention, snow! At least a dozen dancers floated through snowflakes during one portion of the show, which was very impressive. The costumes were gorgeous as well. Many incorporated flowy skirts with brightly colored sequins and sparkles, in addition to the traditional tutu (of course).

I think my favorite part of this show was watching the faces of all the guests as they left the auditorium. All the children, decked out in their holiday gear, were beaming. They even seemed to have an extra sparkle in their eye. The adults also seemed to be enchanted, they looked as though they had been transported back to childhood, just for a moment, and remembered what it had been like to dream of dancing candy canes and toys coming to life. Because of this, I believe the Nutcracker was the perfect addition to my holiday celebration.

Happy Holidays!
~Ashley Moran

Editor’s Note: For more information on the Nutcracker, and future shows at The Keller Auditorium, please visit http://www.obt.org/home.htm