Keeping Dance Alive

1997 Keeping Dance Alive performers

Talented local choreographers and performers will get a chance to shine at the eighth annual Keeping Dance Alive repertory concerts, April 9 through 11. According to co-directors Deborah Jorritsa and Sheree Henning, this is a chance for the audience to see local talent from various dance communities. Keeping Dance Alive is presented by Friends of the Chico Community Ballet, Chico Performances, and Wall Street Dance Academy.

This year's performance showcases the work of two guest choreographers, Shaun Rouse and Bill Iha. Rouse danced with the Bay Area Repertory Dance Company at UC, Berkeley and professionally in Tel Aviv, Israel, and also performed two seasons with the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Iha, nationally recognized for his choreography, has worked on the last seven productions of Keeping Dance Alive, while also choreographing Chico State's productions of West Side Story and The Nutcracker.

An open audition resulted in the selection of dancers varying in age, experience, and styles—from jazz to modern to classical ballet. In addition to these local dancers, Ballet North, a company from Red Bluff, will be making their fourth appearance, performing a contemporary ballet piece.

Jorritsma's goal for this concert is "to increase people's awareness both about the diversity in dance that we have in our town and about what is possible."

Keeping Dance Alive will run April 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and April 11 at 2 p.m. in Laxson Auditorium.

CD