This is the month when all the training and rehearsal of the area’s dance companies comes to fruition and explodes onto stages like wild blossoms. This past weekend saw the major dance revues from Redding Dance Centre and Modern Gypsy. This weekend continues the exposition of dance with three more large dance shows I’d like to tell you about.
Redding Dance Depot's 2010 Nature of Dance
The Redding Dance Depot has been teaching the art of dance for more than 50 years. For any kind of business in Redding, that would be a notable achievement by itself, and it must say something to the effectiveness of the depot’s teaching. “Artistry in Motion” leaps onstage this Saturday, June 18, at the Redding Convention Center. Director Yvonna Kuyper has choreographed 244 dancers from age 2½ to 26 for this blend of lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and other styles. Showtime is 6:30. I’m told last year’s show sold out and it looks to be the same this year.
Dreamweaver Dance Theatre, in that beautiful purple building in the old downtown mall, is launching its show called “LOVE,” based entirely on the music of The Beatles. I love that concept because the many styles and moods The Beatles gave us should be a great fit for the many dance styles the show will feature. This should be a draw for both lovers of dance and Beatles fans. Dreamweaver’s energetic director, Jennifer Mansfield, has scheduled two performances of LOVE at the Cascade Theater on June 18, one at 2 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. Jennifer says the little ones will be able to go home right after their evening show is done, as some are as young as 2 years old.
California Dance Company's Cool Rider Group
Located in Anderson, the unique California Dance Company is led by owner Sonya Kennedy. Its show, titled “Born This Way,” plays one show at 7 p.m. at the Redding Convention Center this Thursday, June 16 — which is very, very soon, so read this fast and get your tickets! This ambitious troupe attends workshops and enters competitions, from San Francisco to New York, throughout the year. California Dance Co. recently competed in eliminations, which took some of its members from Sacramento to Boston and on to Germany for the World Showdance final. Their present show recognizes the gratitude they feel for their inborn gift of dance, Kennedy said.
Catching up to these dance instructors after hectic evening rehearsals for these big shows, I found them understandably frazzled after a long day. But as soon as they begin to talk about their work, their passion, they all become energized. I can hear that passion coming through the phone and there is no longer any room for tiredness. Where do dancers get all that inner fire? I think they’re just born that way.
An actor, director, and artist, Dean Williams has appeared on Shasta County stages for over 25 years in nearly 100 different roles. He has collaborated with many theater groups and is co-founder of The Root Theatre Company. He has also voiced characters for Sega and Playstation video games, acted for a number of radio, televison and independent film projects, and now also serves as A News Cafe’s editor of Stage Manager listings. Reach him at cafestagemanager@gmail.com.
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.
