UNLV DANCE CONCERT: A GALAXY OF GUESTS
By: Hal de Becker
“A Moving Feat” is the name of the UNLV dance department concert to be presented April 5th and 6th at Judy Bayley Theatre.Dances in a variety of styles from classical ballet to contemporary will be choreographed by faculty members and renowned guest artists and performed by student dance-majors.
One of the production’s many highlights will be a performance of “Out of the Night” a three part piece for nine dancers by Debra Noble.
Ms. Noble’s 30 year career in dance includes performing with (Jose) Limon Dance Company and American Repertory Dance Company, with which esteemed choreographers such as Mark Morris and Lar Lubovitch have been associated.
Her dancing and choreography have received rave press reviews throughout the USA, Central America and Europe. Her works have been performed at NYC’s Lincoln Center and other major venues worldwide.
She has served on the faculties of many prestigious international dance organizations including Bard College, State University of New York, Canada’s Simon Frasier University and Mexico’s University of Vera Cruz to name just a few.
She is presently a Professor at California State University where she has established the annual Limon West Coast Summer Workshop.
Dolly Kelepecz’s dance for an ensemble of nymph-like girls and a male youth will be accompanied ‘live’ onstage by music for solo harp by the gifted composer and poet Beth Mehocic.
Thoroughly trained in classical ballet, Ms. Kelepecz moved easily into modern and jazz styles to become principal dancer in the renowned Lido de Paris show at the Stardust Hotel.
Her career has encompassed the following: Choreographer and dancer worldwide; Teacher of ballet and pilates at UNLV; entrepreneur having founded pilates studios throughout the USA, Japan and Mexico; author/producer of books and DVD’s on pilates fitness; TV producer of health and wellness programs; dance company director (Opus).
She can’t be called a ‘Renaissance Man’ because she’s a lovely woman, but she’s certainly ‘A Complete Woman of the Dance’.
Greg Sample’s work will be set in a street scene depicting life in a typical urban neighborhood.
His career as choreographer and dancer is extensive and includes, in part, being featured in the famed Hubbard Street Dance Chicago troupe; Celine Dion extravaganzas; Phantom and Viva Elvis shows. He has also created dances for major international troupes.
Jeneane Gallo Huggins’s piece is a satirical look at America’s fast food and consumer disposal cultures.
She studied and worked with choreographers from the Martha Graham Institute and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance and theatre. She was long associated with the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts as choreographer and teacher.
Don Bellamy, formerly of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will offer an uplifting number combining African and jazz moves.
His classical training and mastery of the Ailey technique led to leading roles in that company for which he received glowing reviews from critics in the New York Times and other publications.He was recently seen in the popular local show “Love 2 Dance”.
Margot Mink Colbert, UNLV’s doyenne of classical ballet and explorer into innovative modern modes, presents a five part ballet for five dancers using classical and contemporary musical accompaniment.
She trained in ballet under Anthony Tudor, Alfredo Corvino and Margaret Craske and in modern with Graham, Limon and Merce Cunningham. She holds a degree in ballet and modern dance from the illustrious Juillard School of Music. In addition to the USA, her choreography is regularly performed in Denmark.
UNLV’s Dance Production Specialist is Peter Jakubowski.He not only supervises and executes the department’s lighting, scenic and overall production designs but also teaches a course in dance production and stage management for students who may not necessarily wish to pursue a performing career.
His lighting skills are much in demand.He has ‘lit’ numerous Nevada Ballet Theatre performances at different venues including Ham Hall, Paris resort and The Smith Center. He is currently working on NBT’s upcoming “Romeo and Juliet” at TSC.
“A Moving Feat” is scheduled with evening and matinee performances.For ticket info call 702-895-2787.
