DANCE THEATRE NORTHWEST PERFORMANCE WILL "ILLUMINATE" EXHIBITS AT MUSEUM OF GLASS

Patra Vessel No. 74 by Linda Lowe

The Tacoma waterfront will be the scene of "Illuminations" this weekend. 

My dictionary defines the word "illuminate" as "to enlighten spiritually or intellectually," and Dance Theatre Northwest's world premier performances of new works, experienced at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, on Saturday, March 14, will do just that. Titled "Illuminations," this entirely new presentation of dance numbers ranging from ballet to jazz and tap was inspired by three of the museum's current exhibits and is FREE with admission during Family Day. Performance times are 1p.m. and 3 p.m. 

Artistic Director Melanie Kirk-Stauffer had this to say about Dance Theatre Northwest's upcoming event and the all-new choreography: "Like all creative projects, I had a lot of fun with this show. The individual pieces are unique but they are also all related. The essential part for me is to create something that enhances what is already great art and or gives people a different perspective about what they are seeing or feeling."

Kirk-Stauffers new creations will express her interpretations of exhibits Patra Passage, The Chihuly Drawings, and Kids Design Glass Too. 

Image from "Illuminations" poster - courtesy of Dance Theatre Northwest

“There’s a lot that I like about this show," dancer Amelia Arial said. "I feel that the pieces are a lot different (the choreography) than the pieces we have done previously—unique, new, different and exciting. The dancing is challenging but a lot of fun for me.”  

Patra Passage, an exhibition of 108 ceramic vessels made and painted by artist Lind Lowe, inspired dance numbers 1-7 of the 11 that will be presented:

1. Baroque one – Grace – Antonio Vivaldi

2. Baroque two  - Power – Henry Purcell

3. Baroque three - The Light – Antonio Vivaldi 

4. Cora Son -  The Heart – solo with Allison Zakharov – Spanish Composer unknown

5. The Journey – solo with Oceana Thunder – Contemporary/New Age – N. Gunn

6. Peace of Mind – Excursion - large group lyrical jazz piece – features Philandra Eargle – Contemporary Dance

7. Flower Duet – Call Us Together—solo with Madeline Ewer –Delibes from Opera Lakme 

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8. Planets – features Lauren Trodahl – Phillip Glass – Orchestral 

The Chihuly Towers inspired Planets. The towers rise to a height of 40 feet above the deck of the "Chihuly Bridge of Glass" pedestrian overpass that crosses the freeway between the Museum of Glass and  the Washington State History Museum on Pacific Avenue. 

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9. Pas de Deux - Harmonic Inspiration – Vivaldi Concerto in G Major – Gregory Peloquin and Solana Sartain

10. Precious – Contemporary/Jazz solo with Olivia Stephen-Jordan

The Harmonic Inspiration Pas De Deux and Precious pieces relate to a children’s exhibit called Kids Design Glass Too.

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11. On Your Toes – Musical theatre TAP group Ziegfeld– Rodgers and Hart

On Your Toes relates to The Chihuly Drawings

"My mind was like a maze at first, trying to put this all together," Kirk-Staffer said, "and then the works really started to take shape."

Why not bring the whole family to this delightful and uniquely Northwest event? The museum is located at 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, Washington. For more information, call DTNW at (253) 778-6534 or the Museum of Glass at (866) 468-7386. Here are detailed directions: http://museumofglass.org/directions


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DANCE PERFORMANCES AT MUSEUM OF GLASS INSPIRED BY EXHIBITS

        The city of Tacoma boasts its own treasure chest of jewels, known as the Museum of Glass. Into the midst of all that color and sparkle will soon come the artistic element of motion. It arrives as a special Art Inspires Art event on Saturday, March 8, sponsored by Dance Theatre Northwest and titled “TRIBUTE: Tradition in Translation." DTN’s Artistic Director Melanie Kirk-Stauffer has interpreted the glass museum’s current exhibitions as dances. Paid admission to the museum includes the opportunity to see seven FREE performances of classical and contemporary ballet and jazz by the DTN dance artists, which will accompany Kirk-Stauffer's slide show and lecture on how the art of glass inspired her own art of choreography. Performances begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Prepare to be dazzled by what Kirk-Stauffer calls “dance illuminations.”

       “Years ago as part of a formal study of aesthetics,” Kirk-Stauffer said, “I was given the assignment of researching, then writing, the ‘definition of beauty.’ Eights weeks later, I completed my personal definition with the realization that a universal theme had emerged from first glance to in-depth contemplation, for every work of art. Rhythm, line, color or reflection of light, repetition, perspective and personal awareness come into play in the creation of things delightful, entrancing, captivating, elusive, hypnotic, mysterious, or transitory.”

       My Webster’s dictionary defines beauty as “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit” and the word illuminate as “to enlighten spiritually or intellectually.” Both of those words relate to the exhibits and the dances they’ve inspired. Kirk-Stauffer says her “dance illumination” presentations provide the opportunity to share insights into how she translates ideas, creations, sounds, and rhythms into dance.

       The title feature of the “TRIBUTE: Tradition in Translation” show is a ballet in four parts, and its name reflects the name of the exhibit called “Caution! Fragile. Irish Glass: Tradition In Transition.” This exhibit explores the past, present, and future of Irish glass through the work of glass artists Róisín de Buitléar and Fred Curtis. 

        Dale Chilhuly’s Irish Cylinders, and glass artists Dante Marioni, Anna Skibska, Ben Edols, Kathy Elliott, and Kelly Knickerbocker, inspired Kirk-Stauffer to choreograph other dances performed at this event, as did an exhibit of exquisite blue and green Czechoslovakian glass perfume bottles and bedroom accessories from the 1920s and ‘30s called “Bohemian Boudoir.” 

Dance Theatre Northwest's delightful contribution to this Family Day at the museum offers programs at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., which each last about one hour. They will include jazz and ballet pieces already in the Dance Theatre Northwest repertoire as well as those inspired by the exhibits. In addition to the “TRIBUTE” ballet, visitors will see:

Capriccio One (duet)

Capriccio Two (five dancers)

Man on the Street (jazz)

Fire To Rain (Lauren Trodahl- contemporary ballet)

One Voice (Allison Zakharov - contemporary ballet)

We Didn't Start The Fire (jazz)

Nite Lites (jazz) 

Featured performers will be Chhay Mam, Allison Zakharov, Lauren Trodahl, Amelia Arial, Oceana Thunder, Solana Sartain, and Gregory Peloquin. 

For more information: 

Dance Theatre Northwest website is http://DTNW.org, phone 253-778-6534 

Museum of Glass website is http://museumofglass.org, phone (866) 468-7386 

Location:1801 Dock Street
Tacoma, Washington 98402-3217

All photos by Maks Zakharvo courtesy of Dance Theatre Northwest.

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Free Dance Theatre Northwest Performance Inspired by Local History



Three sisters—Bertha, Inger, and Pauline Leland—came from Norway in 1904 to settle in what is now University Place, Washington, located on the shores of Puget Sound southwest of Tacoma, an area once covered with forests of mighty trees. All three sisters married men involved with logging operations and established lives and families in the community. The sisters could never have imagined that 109 years later, the stories of their lives and other aspects of local history would inspire Dance Theatre Northwest’s Artistic Director Melanie Kirk-Stauffer to create a new work titled “Impressions.”

This unique dance interpretation of the community's past will be presented to the public free of charge, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, at the University Place Library Atrium, performed by DTNW Regional Company members, including Katie Neumann and Chhay Mam, as well as students of all ages. The program includes classical ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater style dance.

 

DTNW Junior Company member Solana Sartain      Photo by Maks Zacharov

Kirk-Stauffer said, "We hope to honor our long time relationship with the University Place community. It has been fun for all of us to learn from the historical society and from the visit made to the fairly new Museum of History now located near UP City Hall.”

In the era of the Leland sisters' arrival, residents and the school district were so determined to build a university they gave their community the name “University Place” in anticipation of the future. The dreamed-of university never materialized but the name stuck. So did the community’s attitude toward the value of education, leaving a legacy of  excellent schools. The area also became known for its apple orchards, tomato farms, horse ranches, and early fire fighters, all of which have influenced "Impressions.

Kirk-Stauffer added, “I am grateful to the museum board members Howard and Barbara Lee for this opportunity as well as to the UP City representatives and to our dancers, volunteers and board members helping us to coordinate it all."

The Library Atrium is located at 3609 Market St. University Place, WA 98466 (Between 37th St W and Bridgeport Way W).

The company will also present a mini performance at Bridgeport Place on Friday, August 9th at 2:30 p.m. Bridgeport Place is located at 5250 Bridgeport Way W.

Admission and parking are FREE and both facilities are handicapped accessible.  For more information call: (253) 778-6534.

 

The photo of the Leyland sisters was provided by the University Place Historical Society.

 

DANCE THEATRE NORTHWEST EVENT WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS

Just when we could all use something uplifting, along comes “Collections,” Dance Theatre Northwest's combined Spring Concert & Annual School Recital. It can change your whole outlook and give you faith in the next generation. Two shows will be offered in Mount Tahoma High School’s beautiful auditorium at 4634 S. 74^th, Tacoma, WA 98409, on June 22^nd, at 2:30 and 7 p.m.

 

 

The programs will feature dynamic examples of dance styles ranging from classical and contemporary ballet, to jazz, tap, and musical theater. Enjoy classical ballet pieces inspired by Beethoven Symphonies, as well as excerpts from “Swan Lake,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and “Guys & Dolls.”

 

"Dance Theatre Northwest continues to thrive because of its amazing members,” Artistic Director Melanie Kirk-Stauffer told me. “The program we will present next weekend is a fabulous example of how people working together can produce something extraordinary.”

 

Kirk-Stauffer dedicates her life to teaching dance and inspiring her students, which would be more than enough for most people. But she also does the choreography, designs the costumes and stages the performances.

 

Her students, in turn, dedicate themselves to perfecting their art, with Associate Artistic Director Vadne Domeika making major contributions toward their development and the public performances. The results of all that love and hard work show in every move and serve as a testament to goal setting and encouragement. I wish all young people could see how some of their peers have learned focus and perseverance, life lessons that will help them realize their dreams.

 

"I am especially proud of our dancers and staff along with the numerous volunteers that have helped to make this show something that will be beautiful and uplifting, and it has been a lot of fun producing so many new pieces."

For tickets and more information or call 253-778-6534 or see www.DTNW.org  Tickets are available online or at the door. Prices for children and seniors are $11 - $13, Adults $22- $26. Ask about military and group discounts. All photos by Maks Zakarhov.