Message from the Director of Dance Kimberly Maniscalco
I, along with my superb dance faculty, welcome you to discover what makes the LVPA Dance Department a unique educational setting for the passionate young dancer. Our carefully designed, student-centered curriculum is both physically and intellectually stimulating with a focus on developing finely tuned technicians and creative dance artists. When students choose to pursue careers in dance, they are well prepared to succeed in competitive college dance programs. Students discovering they have passions and interests outside of dance are also prepared, with creative tools and an excellent education, for success in college as well as the 21st century workplace.
LVPA Dance Mission Statement: The Dance Department of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts will provide an outstanding dance education that offers students diverse opportunities to discover their creative potential through daily problem solving and independent thinking. Students will study dance as an art form in a unique and stimulating environment, participating in a physically and mentally challenging curriculum.
Dance Performance Season 2010 - 2011
Dance Soup: An informal concert of student choreographed works
Friday November 12, 2010, 7:30 pm in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Saturday, November 13th, 2010, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Sunday, November 14th, 2010, 2:00 pm in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Concert Director, Jennifer Weaver, defines Dance Soup as “A meaningful avenue for students to showcase a diverse array of choreographic expressions; all while exploring the effects of their artistic choices.”
Dance Soup provides students with the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in Improvisation and Dance Composition classes. Through a lengthy process involving faculty acceptance of a student proposal, the auditioning of fellow classmates, setting rehearsal schedules, creation of a work, and attending mentoring sessions with faculty members, the student sharpens their leadership and choreographic skills.
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Quilt: A formal concert of faculty and guest choreographed works
Friday, May 20th, 10:00 am and 7:30 pm - Performed at the Williams Center at Lafayette College
Daturday, May 21st, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm - Performed at the Williams Center at Lafayette College
Concert Director, Kimberly Maniscalco, defines Quilt as, “An eclectic and colorful performance of professional quality that beautifully highlights the varied talents of our students and faculty.”
Quilt is the culminating event of a year long rehearsal and performance course. All dance students audition for and are placed with a member of the LVPA dance faculty who will create original concert length work or restage existing choreography. Students are educated and involved, in numerous ways, casting through performance, in the creative process of making a dance, producing a dance concert, and participating as performers. Students also have the opportunity to audition for guest choreographers whose rehearsals are held after school.
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Young Choreographers in Concert: An informal concert of works by our emerging Senior Choreographers
Friday, April 29th, 7:30 pm – Performed in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Saturday, April 30th, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm – Performed in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Sunday, May 1st, 2:00 pm – Performed in LVPA’s Black Box Theatre
Concert Director, Amy Lawrence, defines YCC as, “An invaluable opportunity for students to find their creative selves and to see an artistic process through from conception to the stage….. A physical and visual expression of the students’ inner feelings and interests that is always an exciting and entertaining surprise to watch!”
YCC is the culminating event, or final exam, for LVPA’s Senior Dance Composition course. Each senior student creates original choreography that is cohesively based on a theme of their choosing and sets this work on a group of dancers selected from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes.
