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In The News
April 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Ballet to Krumping, Jazz to
Hip-Hop
InFusion Spring Dance Concert Aims to Entertain
Dance program to become bachelor’s degree option
next fall
WHAT: InFusion: CSUDH Spring Dance Concert
WHEN:
Friday, May 2, 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m.
WHERE: University Theatre,
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 E. Victoria St., Carson
(Carson, CA)— The
dance program at California State University, Dominguez Hills
(CSUDH) has always been inclusive, exposing students to all forms
of dance. This year’s dance concert showcases this philosophy
while also spotlighting the creativity of students and faculty
at the university.
InFusion: CSUDH Spring Dance Concert will
take place on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, beginning at
8 p.m. in the University
Theatre on campus. Produced by the dance program in the Division
of Performing, Visual and Digital Media Arts, each evening’s
program features original student or faculty choreographed dances
in ballet, jazz, African dance, modern, hip-hop and krumping, performed
by more than 50 CSUDH students and special guests. CSUDH jazz music
students composed a piece and will perform it live for dance faculty
member Michelle Funderburk’s choreographed piece titled “Currents.”
Eleven students have choreographed or co-choreographed performance
pieces for the concert. They include graduating seniors Ashley
Ferguson, Korlah Collins, Kamiko Johnson, TonyAn Westby and Corey
Cohen, as well as freshman Samuel Awolope. Choreographed numbers
by Funderburk, InFusion artistic director and dance program coordinator
Doris Ressl, and faculty member Elissa Kyriacou will be performed
as well. Funderburk and Ressl will make cameo appearances in one
of the dances.
Leanne Vecchione, a professional ballerina
who has danced for the Minnesota Ballet and the American National
Ballet, and Jeanna
Myna with the Ball State Dance Theatre in Indiana are the evening’s
guest performers, along with regional dancers Karl Logan, Carlton
Eleby and krumper Vice City X
“They’re very much going to be seeing a fusion of
dance and music, which is how we came up with the name InFusion,” Ressl
said of what the audience can expect each night. “This idea
of fusion is also something we’re really focusing on with
our new degree program in dance and theater. We have designed the
program to be a true interdisciplinary collaboration, including
dance, theater, music and our cultural studies programs.”
Beginning next fall semester, the dance program will switch from
a minor to a major, merging with the theater program under the
new Department of Theatre and Dance. Students can earn a Bachelor
of Arts degree in theater and dance with a theater or dance option.
Both options will require courses in both disciplines, and courses
in music and Africana studies will be among electives to satisfy
the degree requirements.
“We’ve offered a minor in dance for many years and
interest among students in the minor has grown to the point where
it was time to turn it into a major,” Ressl said. “Collaborating
with theater, we believe, will provide students with a greater
experience. It gives theater majors the opportunity to take dance
and dance majors to take theater.”
Despite the dance program’s current status as a minor, Ressl,
who joined the faculty this academic year, is very impressed with
the variety of classes and the student dancers. She said that the
breadth of the program and CSUDH students’ talents will be
apparent in InFusion.
InFusion tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Proceeds
benefit the dance program. To purchase pre-sale tickets, call (310)
243-3543
CSU Dominguez Hills is located in the city of Carson at 1000 E.
Victoria St. The University Theatre is on the west side of campus
off Toro Center Drive/Tamcliff Street. Visitor parking is permitted
in all campus lots with a valid parking pass. Day passes are $3
and available at the yellow dispensing machines at the perimeter
of each campus lot.
For more information about the dance program or the concert, call
(310) 243-3543 or visit cah.csudh.edu/dnp/dance/index.asp?wID=3.
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---------------------------------------------- About
CSU Dominguez Hills -- California
State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse,
urban university located in the South Bay, primarily
serving the
Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself
on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered
environment.
Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology,
business administration, and digital media arts, new degree
programs include computer science, criminal justice,
recreation and leisure
studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus
is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex
that hosts
world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and
cycling.
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