From modern to jazz, Latin to stomp, DVC’s production of “Dancing: Hours by Arrangement” aims to showcase a wide range of styles from the work of students and choreographers.
The production will show from Dec. 13 to 15 in the Performing Arts Center, displaying a variety of dances performed by the students in the repertory dance production class which is choreographed by instructors Erica Angelakos, Joan Burke and Kimberly Valmore.
According to Angelakos, the title “Dancing: Hours by Arrangement” is a play on words of the type of course the repertory dance production is, where they meet for a certain amount of hours to fulfill the course’s unit requirement.
With this course, students have been working on the production since the beginning of the semester and will include 16 different pieces.
While most of the choreography comes from the instructors, Angelakos wants her students to have some input her dances.
“If the work comes from the person whose dancing it, they really have an investment and they do something they like to do and they feel good doing,” she said. “So I do try to put those opportunities into all my choreography.”
Burke describes that while modern dance makes up at least half of the program, it isn’t all the same and gives room for creative pieces.
“From my perspective, when I teach modern dance I always suggest that it’s my biggest palette,” she said. “You can do anything you want to within a modern piece…it’s much more diverse”
Other styles of dances that will be performed include ballet, tango, merengue and bachata.
In regards to the group of students who are performing this semester, Burke notes that there is a strong sense of teamwork among everyone, despite the differences in skill level.
“Instead of a lot of egos coming to head and being unpleasant with each other or [an] ‘I’m better than…’ kind of an attitude, they are literally taking one another by the hand and teaching them how to be better or how to do something more effectively and they all do it,” she said. “It’s been really wonderful to see as an instructor to watch that kind of an energy.”
Students in the show echo those thoughts and describe the hard work that they have been putting in as well.
21-year-old Hebert Aguilar says that they spend about eight to 10 hours practicing per week.
Sarah Horsely, 19, describes the camaraderie among students in the course.
“Our thing is…we always say, ‘do you trust me with my life?’ because we’re literally flipping each other in the air for some of our partners.” she said. “You have to trust them; if you fall, they’re going to catch you.”
Dancer and psychology student Oscar Mendoza wants the audience to see the passion that’s behind their work.
“We’re not just here to dance and have some fun… it’s like a big gigantic part of our lives and it’s really important to us and we do this because it’s our passion,” he said. “…The great majority of us, we are here because its what we love to do and that’s what makes us happy.”
Aguilar wants others to be inspired by their performances.
“It’s honestly us putting in the hard work in everyday, for every minute, for every second,” he said.
Burke expresses her hopes that people who see the show will learn and see the diversity within the program.
“… it gets to showcase the students and how hard they’ve worked and that’s excellent for them,” she said. “Getting up on the stage and performing and that kind of experience makes you a more enriched human being. Anytime that you delve into the arts, I think you’re more enriched.”
