Springfield Dance Alliance will present its fourth annual fall dance concert, "Harvest", Saturday November 21st at 7:30pm and Sunday the 22nd at 2:00pm, both in Drury University's Wilhoit Theater. Kerry Allan says Springfield Dance Alliance "open(s) up our doors to dancers with professional-level advanced training and at the same time allow members that don't have as much experience, or who maybe have taken a break from dance and want to have a chance to get back into it. And they have a chance to all come together and perform in one production."
"Harvest" will include choreographers and dancers from Missouri State University faculty, Springfield Ballet, Phenomenon Dance Ensemble, and many independent choreographers in the Springfield area.
Among the highlights this year, Springfield Ballet members (who are currently working on their full Nutcracker production for December) will perform Duke Ellington's version of the Nutcracker suite. "But the one dance style that's most different this time," says Kerry Allan, is 'Prismatic Light Dance.' The dancers will perform completely in the dark, with different types of lighting apparatus that they are holding. The audience will be supplied with 3-D 'prism glasses' which will make the lights that the dancers are manipulating have that 3-D sensation. It's a very cool visual spectacle."
There will also be a "structural improv" dance routine for the show's large group ensemble number, involving more than 25 dancers. Kerry Allan says there is a "definite structure" to the routine, but "it's amazing because (the dancers) are coming up with the movement and the interactions between each other. Partnering movements are just spur-of-the-moment. So it's really wonderful to watch within that structure, and they've been enjoying learning some different improv techniques throughout the semester." She adds, "It's a family-friendly production, so feel free to bring the kids."
Tickets are available in advance from http://www.springfielddancealliance.comfor $12 general admission, $10 students. Tickets prices at the door (starting an hour before performances) are higher: $15 general, $12 students. For information email info@springfielddancealliance.com.
