Student Dance Concert Has Something to Please Everyone

Heather Gibson — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:41:18 +0000

Theatre �鶹ԭ�� will present its 7th annual dance concert, “With a Twist,” April 18-21. The event is a showcase for the students in the �鶹ԭ�� dance classes, as well as for the student designers in the theatre department.

The event, which takes place at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St, Orlando, is a perennial favorite, and nearly every performance for the past few years has sold out.

“There’s a little something for everyone in this year’s dance concert,” said Director Earl Weaver. “We’ve got classic ballet, jazz, modern dance, hip-hop, tap—the tap this year is through the roof! It’s a pretty spectacular lineup. We have a lot of seniors choreographing this year and their experience shows.”

Some highlights of the production include:

In addition to the student pieces, several dances are choreographed by faculty members. Weaver has choreographed “The Peacock Mystique,” which was inspired by student Jeffrey Peacock. Peacock is known in the Theatre Department for his dapper attire that includes bowties, glasses, and skinny pants. In the dance, Peacock teaches 20 fellow socially awkward friends how to dance with style to 60s’ doo-wop music.

The dance “Detention” is truly a student collaboration. Choreographer Candace Isaacs, a senior in the BA Theatre studies program, approached BFA Acting senior Terrance Jackson about composing a piece of hip-hop music for her dance. The two worked together to hit the perfect note.

Sophomore Abby Jaros and senior Parker Slaybaugh have jointly choreographed and will be the dancers for “For the Record.” The couple will perform a trio of dances to the music of Frank Sinatra, Bob Crosby, and Bing Crosby with Doris Day.

Ellis Endsley, a dancer with the Orlando Ballet School, will be a featured soloist in “The Kurayamino Variation.”

The concert is not just a showcase for the performers and choreographers. The event also highlights the work of the Theatre Department’s Design and Technology students, who fill the roles of designers and assistant designers.

As a participant in the �鶹ԭ�� Research and Mentoring Program, senior costume designer Melissa Palomino has spent the past year researching Cuban ballet. She collaborated with dance minor Nicole Gonzalez to create a showcase for her work. The dance, “Cuba Linda,” will be the first performance of the concert. In addition to the dance, Palomino’s research will be on display in the lobby for the duration of the production.
Production at a glance:

With a Twist 7th annual dance concert

Directed by Earl D. Weaver

8 p.m.: April 18, 19, 20

2 p.m.: April 21

Orlando Repertory Theatre

Price: Standard $20, Senior $18, Student $10; Group discounts available.

Address: 1001 E. Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803

Box Office Phone: 407-823-1500

Box Office Hours: Monday through Friday: noon to 6 p.m. and 2 hours before performances

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For more information about Theatre �鶹ԭ��, visit .

Theatre Students Take Honors at Festival

Heather Gibson — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:48:36 +0000

Several students from �鶹ԭ�� received high honors at the recent Kennedy Center/American College Theater Region IV Festival at Daytona State College.

The festival showcases the top productions and students from universities and colleges in nine states.

�鶹ԭ�� students brought home honors in scenic design (Benson Knight, first place), playwriting (Bryant Hernandez, first place), costume design (Melissa Palomino, meritorious achievement), dramaturgy (RK Barringhaus, runner-up), and stage management (Jasmin Holton, alternate).

Knight will represent �鶹ԭ�� at the Kennedy Center Festival in Washington in April. He was nominated for his work on the Spring 2011 production of Vinegar Tom.

The festival “offers a lot of amazing opportunities,” said Knight. “I had some great conversations with the respondents in Region IV and I look forward to meeting the other judges at the national level. You never know what design opportunities those relationships might lead to. It’s also a great opportunity to meet some amazing student designers who [we] will work with for the rest of our careers.”

Hernandez will work with the Theatre Department to produce his one-act play, Last Chance, next fall. The production will be presented at the 2013 festival. Hernandez said that having his work presented “gives me confidence in my voice as a playwright. I hope to have this play published in the future.”

Theatre �鶹ԭ�� had 14 pairs of students compete in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition. �鶹ԭ�� had more students invited to compete for the award than any other university in the region.

Allison Walter with Kristin Shoffner, Kayla Zaniboni with Kurt Muilenburg, Jessica Booth with Jason Nettle, Gracie Winchester with Jason Nettle, and Rachel Schimenti with Laura Adams advanced to the second round. Of those, two pairs (Zaniboni with Muilenburg, and Winchester with Nettle) progressed to the final round.

Due to budget cuts, full productions are not invited to the 2012 Washington festival but will be eligible for awards. The productions were reviewed and awards will be announced in April. Theatre �鶹ԭ��’s production of Gem of the Ocean was presented to a full house and was well received by the adjudicators.

Melissa Palomino Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

Student Dance Concert Has Something to Please Everyone

Theatre Students Take Honors at Festival