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February 13, 2004
Dance it up at Chutzpah!
Performers offer eclectic mix of modern and tap, live and recorded
music.
JOHN CRAWFORD SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Dance often has a difficult time attracting audiences from outside
of the dance world. But this year's Resident Dance and JCC Shalom
Dancers shows at Chutzpah! The Lisa Nemetz Showcase of Jewish Performing
Arts will be an easy sell, as local companies present an eclectic
fusion of modern and tap dance, live and recorded music, small and
large ensembles.
For Resident Dance, Chutzpah! veteran Chick Snipper and her company
DanStaBat return with Drushka, a new solo by Andrea Gunnlaugson,
who has performed on stages throughout Canada and Europe. With text
by Louise Bentall and music by composer Owen Belton, Drushka tells
the compelling story of a female tyrant.
Exploring the relationships between live music and tap dance, the
Blue Riff Project will be making its debut performances at the Chutzpah!
festival. Choreographer Melissa Frakman leads a group of four young
tap dancers - including Carmelle Cachero, Rebecca Lewis, Tracie
Zonta and Frakman herself - through two pieces that stretch and
expand the possibilities of tap dance. No hat and cane numbers here!
In their Resident Dance performance, the four will be joined by
six members (on brass, standup bass and drums) of Guido's Playtime
Orchestra (formerly the Bearded Lady). Led by composer, saxophonist
and music instructor John Crawford, GPO brings a wide range of influences
to the Blue Riff Project – from blues to big band to contemporary
classical to Latin. And while exploring the various sounds and ensembles
within the 10-person outfit, the performers often switch roles in
the Blue Riff Project, as the dancers become an intricate part of
the rhythm section, the musicians are choreographed, the bass holds
the melody and the horns lay down the groove.
Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg and Cori Caulfield team up in Resident
Dance to present their new duet "Sis-Turns," which will,
no doubt, show off the duo's dramatic, physical and comic talents,
which have charmed audiences here and abroad. Freidenburg will be
performing her solo "Go Anyway" and Caulfield, an inter-disciplinary
artist, will also present a solo of her own.
Resident Dance performances take place Feb. 22, 7 p.m., and Feb.
23, 8 p.m., in the Norman Rothstein Theatre. The cost is $18 with
tickets available by phone at 604-257-5145, online at www.chutzpahfestival.com
or at the festival box office in the JCC.
The Jewish Community Centre's Shalom Dancers also take to the Norman
Rothstein stage. They will be showcasing some new works for the
2004 season in their Feb. 29, 1 p.m., show that celebrates the cultural
mosaic of Israel through lively dances, exciting music and colorful
costumes. There is no charge for this Chutzpah! event.
John Crawford is a member of the Blue Riff Project and
is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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