Fall 2020 Virtual Dance Concert

Performing Arts at CCBC
presents

Fall 2020 Virtual Dance Concert

CCBC Dance Company Artistic Director
Melinda Blomquist

CCBC Dance Coordinator
Tommy Parlon

CCBC Dance Company Associate Director
Kristi Schaffner

Seamstress
Charisse Secrest

Lighting Designer
Terri Raulie

Technical Director
Jason Randolph

Production Coordinator
Lisa L. Boeren

Choreographers:
Melinda Blomquist | Alice Howes
Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Tommy Parlon | Kristi Schaffner

Artistic Director’s Note

On Friday December 4^th, the CCBC Dance Company was scheduled to be performing at our Catonsville Center for the Arts Theater; however, since the COVID19 pandemic is ongoing, we are instead performing for you in our second virtual concert. We started planning for this performance in late May when I gave the choreographers the challenge to think about how they each could present their work virtually as Dance for the Camera.

This past semester we have been working in our studios wearing masks, dancing in taped off squares and cleaning after classes and rehearsals. We were able to film in the theater, adding lighting and costuming to the works. While there are times when on film the dancers are not wearing masks, we did follow social distancing protocols and cleaned after every dancer was filmed individually as well as when they were masked and filmed in groups. Once we were finished filming in the theater each choreographer than began the editing processes for their work. Each piece comes from the unique viewpoint of the choreographer. I hope you take a moment to read the choreographer’s note we have included with each piece. For the student works presented in the concert they took on the added challenge to create works that were site specific, adding another element to the process of creating.

I am grateful to the musicians who again shared their artistic talents to allow us to share our work to as broad an audience as possible. All the works in the concert use music that is either an original composition created for the work, or music that is used with permission of the artist. The resulting collaboration between choreographers, dancers, and musicians is a testament to how dance continues to find a way to share the exquisite wonder of movement and meaning, even in difficult times. I hope that you find moments of understanding, perhaps moments of sorrow, but most importantly – moments of peace and joy, as you watch these works.

As CCBC Performing Arts is focused on helping us to “Reimagine” what art is now, we continue to dance and create; we continue to find art in our lives.

Enjoy the performance!
Melinda Blomquist
Artistic Director, CCBC Dance Company

Program

Choreography: Alice Howes
Videography: Melinda Blomquist and Alice Howes
Music: Morning Sun and Moments Like These by Will Van De Crommert
Costumes: Alice Howes
Dancers: Adria Applebee, Elena Laird, Stephanie O’Hare, Maegan Read
Choreographer’s Note: Webster’s defines verve as “the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance.” This piece celebrates the energetic spirit that dance can bring into our lives.

Choreography: Adria Applebee
Videography: Debi Applebee
Video Editing: Adria Applebee, Titus Carey
Music: Arrecife by Tomas Novoa, edited by Titus Carey
Dancer: Adria Applebee
Choreographer’s Note: This piece is about moving on, growing quicker than normal and the lack of control we have over these things in life.
*This work is in partial fulfillment of the AFA degree in Dance

Choreography: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Videography: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Music: White Noise (2019) for fixed media by Ljiljana Jovanović
Text: Juanita Rockwell
Children readers: Anastasia Anastasopoulu, Sasha and Mila Becker, Ekaterina Gozhelova, Sophie Levine, Minja and Viktor Luković, John and James Wentzel, Tara and Luka Wissel
Costumes: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Dancers: Anastasia McKenzie, Nasir Powell and the CCBC Fall 2020 Improv Class: Justin Allen, Rachel Huber, Elena Laird, Stephanie O’Hare, Cheyenne Harris
Choreographer’s Note: White Noise was commissioned by Baltimore Composers Forum for their performance Sound in Motion VI. The improvisations and film were inspired by the musical composition of the same name by Ljiljana Jovanović, as well as the idea of the mundane and redundant soundtrack we ignore day in and day out that connects us even though we are separated.

Choreography: Kristi Schaffner
Videography: Melinda Blomquist and Kristi Schaffner
Music: Cosmos, composed by Jordan Addison
Costumes: Charisse Secrest and Kristi Schaffner
Dancers: Dorien Carroll, Rachel Huber, London Smith
Choreographer’s Note: Take a trip out of this world with a trio of dancers who are exploring the cosmos. Conceptually a combination of mysticism and science, this work aims to breathe life into distant planets, celestial bodies, and that which is still unknown about the solar system and beyond.

Choreography: Dorien Carroll
Videography: F.A.M.E
Video Editing: Dorien Carroll
Music: Original Score by Dorien Carroll
Dancer: Dorien Carroll
Choreographer’s Note: To Heal. To Feel. shows vulnerability, healing, and peace combined in one. The music was a great experience to create. As an artist and producer, I felt that it was very important to create the music for the piece by myself. Filming was the best choice for this piece because it gave me a chance to be free and get creative. In order to heal, you have to feel what you’re going through. I hope this piece brings healing to you.
*This work is in partial fulfillment of the AFA degree in Dance

Choreography: Tommy Parlon
Videography: Melinda Blomquist
Music: Atmospheric Background Music 3 by Keith Anthony Holden
Costumes: Tommy Parlon
Dancers: Adria Applebee, Stephanie O’Hare, Maegan Read, London Smith
Choreographer’s Note: Confined Divergent is an exploration of these unique times of social isolation and togetherness. The dancers are separated by space and physical barriers but still connected emotionally as a tribe.

Choreography: Maegan Read
Videography: Wesley Read
Video Editing: Titus Carey
Music: Tears by Ibrahim Chaabane music by Fenek Studio**
Dancer: Maegan Read
Choreographer’s Note: This piece is about knowing your destination but not knowing how to get there so you explore many different directions and trying different things that could help you on your road of where you want to be at the end of the day.
*This work is in partial fulfillment of the AFA degree in Dance
**Tears Music by Fenek Studio is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/… Based on a work at https://youtu.be/NhysaUMw9qg Fenek Studio : https://www.facebook.com/FenekStudiog… For optimal or custom version : contact : Contact@FenekStudio.com

Choreography: Melinda Blomquist
Videography: Melinda Blomquist
Music: Beginning by James Gummer
Costumes: Melinda Blomquist
Dancers: Justin Allen, Adria Applebee, Stephanie O’Hare, London Smith
Choreographer’s Note: As performers we are asked to reveal parts of ourselves, our fears/uncertainties/sorrows/challenges/triumphs/joy/happiness that others can keep hidden. This work explores how we reveal the hidden and allow ourselves to grow through that process of sharing. Since it is a work that brings the audience into the performance space that is not possible on stage, even more is possible as we reveal the hidden.

Choreography: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Videography: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Music: Yui by Ampyx
Costumes: Adrienne Kraus Latanishen
Dancers: Justin Allen, Dorien Carrol, Elena Laird, Shardai Smith
Choreographer’s Note: Inspired by the musical composition “Yui” and the words the composer/musician Ampyx used to describe it, the dance “Still Here | Wait There” represents an existential crisis and the depression that follows. Nothing matters, and yet other people matter to us and we matter to other people. Can we just hold onto that?

The Dancers

JUSTIN ALLEN
Is in his first year dancing at CCBC. He attended Milford Mill Academy where he started dancing his freshman year. He had this to say about the current semester and his experiences here at CCBC: I am enjoying the experience of dancing with a college level company. I am dancing at CCBC to get closer to my dreams.

ADRIA APPLEBEE
is currently in her fourth semester taking dance classes at CCBC, this is her third semester dancing with the CCBC Dance Company. She is a parallel enrolled homeschooler taking full-time college classes at CCBC. Adria is also a gymnast and has been training in aerial silks for 6 years. Her previous aerial productions include Circus, The Flight of Icarus, Under the Sea, The Odyssey, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

DORIEN CARROLL
has been dancing at CCBC for 3 years. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. He has enjoyed the process of exploring and experimenting with movement for all the pieces that he is in. He had this to say about the current semester and his experiences here at CCBC: This semester is very different from any other semester. I’m at CCBC to grow not only as a person, but as an artist.

RACHEL HUBER
is in her first year of the Dance Program at CCBC. She attended Perry Hall High School and has studied with Supernova Dance Company. She has enjoyed the opportunity to further her dance education and making connections with her fellow dancers this semester being in the CCBC Dance Company. She had this to say about the current semester and her experiences here at CCBC: I am dancing at CCBC because I have always wanted to be a professional dancer and now I can achieve that dream while staying close to home.

ELENA LAIRD
is in her first-year dancing at CCBC. She is currently dual enrolled as in High School in addition to taking classes at CCBC. She previously danced at Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center. She has enjoyed the opportunity to perform and work with new choreographers. She had this to say about the current semester and her experiences here at CCBC: I’m dancing at CCBC to get a jumpstart on college dance courses and to have some experience dancing in a more professional setting.

STEPHANIE O’HARE
Is in her third year of dancing at CCBC. She attended Perry Hall High School and danced under the direction of Brittany Lafolla at The Dance Studio. She enjoyed the process of seeing how our choreographers created their pieces considering the many restrictions and guidelines we have been following during this time. She feels that it is definitely making everyone think outside of the box. She had this to say about the current semester and her experiences here at CCBC: I am dancing at CCBC so I can eventually transfer, but also the dance program is highly accredited. There are so many opportunities here and everyone feels like family.

MAEGAN READ
has been dancing at CCBC for two years. She began dancing at the age of 3 at church. She has studied at The Maryland Academy of Dance, under the leadership of Darby Pack, which is the same person who oversaw the church dance ministry when she began dancing. After graduating from high school in 2017, she attended Morgan State University and joined the Morgan State Modern Dance Ensemble. After transferring to CCBC in fall of 2019, she joined the dance company.

LONDON SMITH
started her training at CCBC under Thomas Parlon. She attend New Town High School where she graduated in 2018. She has also performed with All County Honors Dance Ensemble and Deviated Theatre. This is London’s first year working with CCBC Dance Company. London plans on transferring to University of the Arts after completing her AFA degree at CCBC.

SHARDAI SMITH
began her dance training at a family friends’ studio and in her church dance ministry. She attended Franklin High School where she graduated in 2015. She also has danced for Rayn Fall dance studio. Shardai plans on transferring to Temple University upon achieving her AFA degree in Dance. She had this to say about the current semester and her experiences here at CCBC: She has danced at CCBC because she knew that this would be a steppingstone to be successful.

The Choreographers

MELINDA BLOMQUIST
(Artistic Director)
received a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; and a Master of Arts in Dance Pedagogy from Brigham Young University. Melinda has presented her choreographic work in numerous venues nationally and internationally including: the South Central and Mid-Atlantic American College Dance Festivals; the Southern District AAHPERD conferences; Northwest Vista College; the National Dance Association Pedagogy Conferences; the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; and at the Attakkalari Festival in Bangalore India. She has also performed her own work and the work of other artists in various venues. Melinda is currently working with Trajectory Dance Project.
Melinda is an Associate Professor of Dance at the Community College of Baltimore County and is the Artistic Director of the CCBC Dance Company. Melinda is involved in community outreach, focusing on promoting the importance of dance as art form in public education. Previously Melinda was a member of the dance faculty at the University of Texas Pan American where she was the Co-Artistic Director of the Dance Ensemble. Melinda has also worked with the Theatre and Music departments as a choreographer for Musical Theatre productions both at the University of Texas Pan American and at the Community College of Baltimore County.

ADRIENNE KRAUS LATANISHEN
(Choreographer)
is not only an adjunct dance professor at The Community College of Baltimore County, but a proud alum too. After transferring to The University of Maryland, College Park she graduated with honors with her B.A. in Dance. Adrienne is currently the Director of Dance at St. Timothy’s School, a private/boarding school for girls. At the moment she dances professionally and independently for Trajectory Dance Project, Molly Jean Kirkup Heer, and herself. She has also danced for BlueShift Dance (principal dancer), The Collective (choreographer, teacher, and dancer), B3W of New York City, Andary Dance, and withhart.dance.projects, of which she was also founding member and assistant director. Her choreography has been commissioned for local theatre groups, high schools, and colleges including Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts where she was made Artist in Residence.

TOMMY PARLON
(Dance Coordinator)
a native of Washington, D.C., received his M.F.A. in Dance (Choreography and Technology) from Arizona State University and his B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. From 1998-2002 he was an Assistant Professor of Dance at Kent State University. While in New York City he danced with J. Fregalette Janson Dance, Centaur Dance Theatre, Beyondance Inc! and the Paris based multi-media performance art company FIASCO. Mr. Parlon has danced in pieces by Doug Varone, Stephen Petronio, Alvin Mayes, Laura Dean and Elizabeth Streb. In 1996-1998 he collaborated on Falling to Earth, an interactive multi-media performance piece created with the Institute for Studies in the Arts at Arizona State University. His choreography has been commissioned by Incidents Physical Theater of New York City, NEW ARTiculations in Tucson, Arizona, Lansing Chamber Dance in Michigan, and numerous colleges throughout the United States. He was awarded an Individual Artist Award in Solo Dance Performance from the Maryland State Arts Council in 2004 and an Artist Award in Choreography in 2007. Mr. Parlon is currently the Artistic Director of Tommy Parlon Dance Projects in Washington, D.C., the Artistic Associate of Ground Zero Dance in Richmond and the Dance Coordinator at CCBC.

KRISTI SCHAFFNER
(Associate Director)
attended the University of Oklahoma as a teaching fellow where she received her MFA in modern dance (2011). She also has BFA in dance education from Kent State University (2004). Through a graduate student grant, she studied Laban Movement Analysis at the Laban Institute in NYC. Ms. Schaffner has performed with Jeslyn Dance Gallery, Clawson Dances, Junction Dance Theatre, and Tommy Parlon Dance Projects among others, and is a current dancer and Director of Education and Outreach for Dragonfly Dance Experiment. Her choreography has been presented across the country including Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Washington D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore, Salt Lake City and at the Howard County Dance Festival. A passion for education has inspired her to create and implement dance curricula for both preschools and charter school students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Ms. Schaffner is a current adjunct faculty member in the dance divisions of Anne Arundel Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County and is a frequent guest instructor and performer in schools and community events.

ALICE HOWES
(Choreographer)
is a dance artist and educator who is director of Trajectory Dance Project, a Baltimore-based modern dance ensemble. She has held full-time faculty positions at universities including Coppin State University, UNC Charlotte, and Lamar University. In addition, she served from 1995 to 2004 as artistic director and resident choreographer of Washington, D.C.’s Sister’s Trousers Dance Company, a modern dance ensemble based in the D.C. area. Sarah Kaufman of The Washington Post described Howes’ performance as “riveting, thrilling and deeply mysterious”. Howes’ choreography has appeared in selective showcases at venues such as D.C.’s Dance Place, The Booth Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Millennium Stage. She holds an MA in dance from American University and an MFA in dance from Sam Houston State University. Howes also has earned a Certificate of Movement Analysis (CMA) from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis | CCBC President
Dr. Joaquin Martinez | Provost & Vice President of Instruction
Dr. Rich Lilley | Vice President of Enrollment & Student Services
Dr. William Watson | Dean, School of Arts & Communication
Professor Patti Crossman | Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities
Dr. Rebecca Ocampo | Arts Pathways Coordinator
Dr. Anne M. Lefter | Director, Performing Arts
Johanna Lawrence | Administrative Support Assistant, Performing Arts
Cathy Kratovil | Communications Assistant, School of Arts & Communication