Many of our faculty members traveled across the Atlantic this summer to teach and perform. Highlights include: Robert Becker, assistant professor of music, was invited to Cremona, Italy as a guest concerto soloist, chamber music artist, and string adjudicator for the International Music Competition and Festival. Assistant professor of theatre Donald Guy and associate professor of
Associate professor of dance Liz Maxwell is one of several faculty choreographers who will be contributing to the Department of Dance’s Fall Dance Concert. The theme of Professor Maxwell’s piece is related to the idea of “liminal space”, which is defined as “occupying a position at or on both sides of a boundary or threshold.”
The annual Spring Dance Concert, directed by instructor of dance Jennifer Backhaus, will be held in the Waltmar Theatre May 8-11. This fully-produced concert will feature choreography by dance majors Ellen Akashi, David Bagley, Sami Dedolph, Emily Duncan, Natalie Iscovich, Shelby LaRosa, Molly Myers, Derek Nemechek and Alexi Theodore. For more information and tickets, visit
The Department of Dance’s annual Works in Progress show will feature 31 first-time choreographers and 66 dancers split into two separate concerts Saturday and Sunday. Says director Robin Kish, assistant professor of dance, “the students have been rehearsing since January 2 and are excited to present their final works on stage!” Works in Progress
Dale Merrill, Dean of the College of Performing Arts, served on a panel of judges for the 15 th Annual Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, CA. The panel included legendary dancers Donald McKayle, Jodie Gates and Larry Billman and pioneering talent agent Julie McDonald. The festival highlights new and exciting choreography, offers cash
Alicia Guy, associate professor of dance, was selected to judge the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit professional NBA dance team auditions. The highly selective panel of judges included Diane Bonds, choreographer for the LA Laker Girls; John Peters, choreographer for numerous NBA and NFL professional dance teams; LA radio host Brian Sieman; and the LA Clippers
Students of the College of Performing Arts will be traveling the country as well as honing their skills on the Chapman campus in January 2013. The New York Theatre Tour will allow theatre students to analyze the interconnectedness of local and global influences within the New York theatre community, as
This year’s Fall Dance Concert will include a new piece choreographed by Holly Johnston, the artistic director of LEDGES AND BONES, a contemporary dance company working in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. LEDGES AND BONES promotes cultural consciousness, open dialogue, and social justice through live performances, education, and other public forums. Ms.
Department of Dance alumna Monica Mordaunt (’12) was part of San Diego Dance Theatre’s annual Trolley Dances, which are site-specific performances where the audience travels on a trolley to the different performance sites. Read all about this unique event, now in its 14th year, in the U-T San Diego at http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/29/guest-choreographers-help-make-trolley-dances-a/ .
Backhausdance, the acclaimed Orange-County based modern dance company led by instructor of dance and alumna Jennifer Backhaus (’94), will receive the Arts OC “Outstanding Arts Organization” award at their annual arts awards on September 18. At the forefront of Southern California contemporary dance, this company is now in its 10th year and