Spring Dance Showcase Features USD Theatre Students
The showcase highlights original pieces by 14 undergraduate student choreographers. Ebrin Stanley and Sahar Mohtadi Tabrizi each composed and recorded original music for their choreographed work. Choreographer Braeden Garrett collaborated with music student Alyssa Brill on a piece with live percussion. Nearly 40 students are involved in the showcase as choreographers and/or dancers.
Their creative scholarship is overseen by Patricia Downey, associate professor of dance, who serves as the director of the dance showcase as well as the primary choreographic mentor and teacher of dance technique. With assistant professor of lighting design Jonathan Allender-Zivic, assistant professor of costume design Caitlin Quinn, costume studio manager Bethany Padron, assistant professor of scenic design Victor Shonk and production manager and associate professor of technical theatre Scott Mollman, faculty and staff have mentored the creative scholarship of over 50 USD students involved in the showcase as choreographers, dancers, designers, musicians and technicians.
USD students also had the opportunity to work with Kevin Breazeale, an internationally known freelance music theatre director, choreographer, master class clinician and performer. Trained in tap, jazz, ballet, swing, ballroom and musical theatre, Breazeale created original choreography specifically for the USD students to the title song from the classic musical “Anything Goes,” with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Additionally, Downey has restaged two pieces of choreography by musical theatre legends Tommy Tune and Michael Bennett.
Tickets are available at the door the day of the performance for a free will donation.