Monday, April 12, 2010

Dance Repertory Company presents spring concert April 23-24

WINONA, Minn. — The Dance Repertory Company’s performance season will conclude with a recital titled “An Evening with Benny Goodman,” at Saint Mary’s University. This performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, and at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

For more than three decades, the Dance Repertory Company has delighted the Winona community with quality dance productions featuring local dancers in classical and contemporary works. This year, the DRC presents contemporary dance to the timeless music of Benny Goodman.

The concert will feature three restaged works, “Bugle Call Rag,” “Christopher Columbus,” and “Sing, Sing, Sing,” from the company’s repertoire in the 2000 production of “The Goodman Suite,” as well as eight new works including: “Don’t Be That Way,” “King Porter’s Stomp,” “Sometimes I’m Happy,” “Let’s Dance,” “Ti-Pin-Ti,” “These Foolish Things,” “Goody Goody,” and “I Would Do Anything For You.” Heidi Draskoci-Johnson, Christine Martin, Andrea Mirenda, Juliana Piscitiello and the company’s artistic director, Tammy Schmidt, choreographed this year’s concert featuring tap, jazz, contemporary ballet, swing and modern dance.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of “The Goodman Suite” and as our nation celebrates Benny Goodman’s 100th birthday as well as national dance week, this concert is the perfect way to spend an evening at the Page,” said Christine Martin, production coordinator.

The dancers of this performance currently train at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and at Saint Mary’s University. Cast members include: Dot Armstrong, Jarod Boltjes, Lauren Callahan, Jennifer Cambio, Fallon Devine, Genna Draskoci-Johnson, Keegan Eide, Lydia Feuerhelm, Jami Fonfara, Annie Garrigan, Charlotte Hardick, Caitlin Kaman, Kate Larson, Justine Meinke, Joanna Mills, Bryan Moore, Rachael Moore, Laura-Leigh Newton, Jocelyn Olson, Colette Penic, Matt Polum, Miranda Ruben, Danielle Schleich, Laura Schleich, Natalie Schleich, Claire Smart, Brian Smith, Phil Soulides, Danny Spiess, Eldon Vaselaar, Adelle Vietor, Kaitlyn Vietor, Nicole Volner, Calli Jo Wagner and Anna Wolner.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. The Page Theatre will admit children ages 5 and older to the April 23 evening performance. The April 24 afternoon performance is considered a family event and children ages 2 and older are welcome. At this time the Page Theatre/SMU Performance Center facilities and programs are not equipped to serve the needs of infants. Tickets are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the SMU Performance Center at (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.