All cultures sing, drum, and dance; therefore music and movement are universal, no matter how far from home you journey. Just as most of us are not world-class singers, most of us are not world-class dancers. But those who do become adept dancers have a level of creativity that can mine the sophisticated depths music can provide while transforming its rhythmic movements into a vibrant visual art.
Take the two featured choreographers for Allan Hancock College’s spring dance recital Dance Spectrum, running March 26 through 29, Sarah Shouse and Jesus Solorio. Both come from different backgrounds of dance, yet both can do the same thing.
Shouse is a Hancock alumna just returning from earning an master’s of fine arts in performance and choreography from Mills College who prepared an ensemble piece for Dance Spectrum. “Kindred,” portrays the family dynamic with modern dance techniques set to music by Zoe Keating. Themes like conflict and harmony will coalesce between rhythmic musical pulses and the complimentary movements of the student dancers.
Solorio, a Paso Robles native known for the great skill he exhibited on So You Think You Can Dance, will be performing a solo titled “Dream Light.” The piece explores the story of an everyday workaholic who dreams of breaking free and accomplishing something more. Solorio—who has also appeared in stage productions—will be exploring his own feelings in this originally choreographed piece.
Solorio will also present a group piece titled “The Room,” which examines the difference and sometimes tension between our public and private selves. Music has long been considered a potent way to portray mental spaces or feelings, but the visual medium of dance will allow internal ideas and emotions to come out and be seen. That will be Solorio’s and the other dancers’ challenge with “The Room.”
Dance Spectrum will also include choreography by faculty and students including Horacio Heredia, Elvis Barrera, Alex Caballero, Christy McNeil Chand, Brianna Deveraux, Courtney Grimnes, Tamarr Paul, Ben Reyes, Sandra Rodriguez, and Cynthia Valenzuela. The Allan Hancock College Dance Department teaches a wide range of dance. Styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, hip-hop, tap, and folk dance will all be included in Dance Spectrum, which will showcase more than 50 dancers.
Some styles, like ballet, are as rehearsed as the music they are inspired by. Once choreographed, a ballet piece is rehearsed and honed to perfection, with ultimate attention paid to the form and clarity of movement. A hip-hop dance, although it’s choreographed, still leaves gaps and moments for inflection and light improvisation, seeking to capture a raw energy or emotion as it arises.
Truly rhythmic styles of dance like tap or certain kinds of ballet folklorico call on the dancers to provide some of the music themselves. With shoes and the stage serving as instruments, these dancers become collaborating musicians, accentuating and exploring the beat.
Whatever style you may see performed at Allan Hancock College’s Dance Spectrum recital, the musical skill of the performers will be apparent. And even though most of the dancers might not play an instrument—or maybe they wouldn’t qualify as truly great singers—each possesses a truly musical mind, free to explore the endless band of choices hidden between the beats.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2015.