Dance Houston 2014

The Houston Dance Lab
Bang Bang
Choreographer: Traci Greene
Dancers: Clara Chapman, Arden Burleigh, Jannah Collins, Katilyn McElroy, Jayla Wright, Jordan Gregorcyk-Landrey, Mallory Green, Trevon Johnson, Emily Criswell, Euriah McQueen, Rebekah Dillard, Bailey Flowers
Music: Bang Bang by Will.i.am

Extreeem Entertainment
Hip-Hop and Latin Dance
Director: Elyssa Ortuño
Company Assistant: Carlos Herrera
Choreographers and Dancers: Jose Gomez, Abel Fuentes, Elexis Ortuño, Evelyn Ortuño
Extreeem Dancers: Elizabeth Menchaca, Valerie Contreras, Leslie Albdegani, Julio Rodriguez, Benjamin De La Cruz
Explosion Dancers Group 1: Ashely Ruiz, Gisselle Jasso, Nathalie Pineda, Ruby Pineda, Nevaeh Guerra, Sylvie Almendarez, Emily Medina, Vivian Diosdado
Explosion Dancers Group 2: Melissa Jasso, Briana Ruiz, Elani Renteria, Kiareliz Ramos, Jessie Almendarez, Denise Diosdado, Bianca Ontiveros, Yanelle Maldonado, Nathalie Lorena, Esmeralda Alvarez, Susana Anguino, Beatriz Hernandez, Yaslei Cortes, Chasity Jacobo, Gabby Zepeda, Jaielene Garcia, Hailey Herrera , Alyssa Brear, Erik Solorzano, Anthony Menchaca, David Menchaca, Miguel Herrera, Emilliano Herrera, Adrian Benavides, Cruz Reyna, Edgar Diosdado
A Latin and hip-hop piece representing Extreeem Entertainment’s Latin-American culture. The piece features bachata, cumbia, hip-hop and housing.

Align Dance Theatre
Insomnia Waves (excerpt)
Choreographer: Wendy Ellis/Align Dance Theatre
Dancers: Yanna Karvounis, Gaby Luna, Kate Rash,Jessica Stewart, Amanda Wellington, Lauren Burke (Understudy)
Music: The Social Network (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross by Insomnia Waves is an abstract interpretation of inconsistent sleep patterns in relationship with the brain wavelengths. The movement exploration incorporates a variety of balls which represent ethereal stages of sleep: calm, unsteady, restless or floating sensation.

Mnemosyne
Roya (Persian Dreams)
Choreographer: Kristina Koutsoudas
Dancers: Dorianne Castillo Heba Khan Kristina Koutsoudas Duo Wu
Music: Szerelem by StellaMara
Roya is the third in a series of pieces celebrating the depiction of “peris”, or angels in Persian mythology. Although rarely the subject of dance pieces, they often adorn the pages of original manuscripts of mystic writing and sacred poetry. Known for their beauty, radiance, purity, and above all, mischievous and playful nature when dealing with humans, peris are beloved figures in literary and visual arts.

Ballet Jete Company-Kennedy Dance Theatre
Les Sylphides (excerpt)
Artistic Director: Milena Leben
Studio Director: Mary Lee Kennedy
Dancers: Erica Carmona, Bethany Curtis, Cherilene Guzman, Emi Houghton, Rohini Kambhampati, Michelle McKay, Abbey Menard, Melanie Mills, Caroline Senter, Rachel Koerner, Rachel Mueller, Sarah Pinder
Music: Frederic Chopin
Costumes: Laurie Blackshear and Julie Neisler
An excerpt of classical ballet based on the choreography of Mikhail Fokine, a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer. Les Sylphides was originally choreographed in 1907 and featured Vaslav Nijinsky.

Kucheza Ngoma Dance Company
Sankofa
Choreographers: Leora-Dona, Hannjah, & Zinnnijah Guadalupe
Dancers: Leora-Dona Guadalupe , Hannjah Guadalupe , Zinnnijah Guadalupe, Iyanla “Yana” Santana
Drummer: Oluwatito “Trooth” Peluoro Balew
Sankofa, in the Akan language of Ghana, means “reach back and get it”. The Asante Adinkra symbols of a bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back, and of a stylized heart shape that is associated with the proverb, “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.” This piece features traditional dances and moves that have been preserved and performed to modern and traditional music.

Revolve Dance Company
Bloodstream
Choreographers: Dawn Dippel & Matt Dippel
Dancers: Amy Cain, Wesley Cordova, Dawn Dippel, Matt Dippel, Allison Stanley, Jennifer Stricklin, Jane Thayer, Jessica Thayer
Music: Bloodstream by Stateless
Costumes: Jane Thayer
The energy that flows through each of us individually and collectively.

Inertia Dance Co
Linear Function
Choreographer: Joel Rivera
Direction & Staging: Sharon Roberts
Music: “Bombs Over Baghdad” by Outkast
Dancers: Hector Cisneros, Regan Monteverde, Julian Gamez, Danna Tao, Christopher Bautista, Hannah Clark, Antonio Oliveras, Carly Cramer, Jaylon Handy, Alexia Dos Santos, Christian Leal, Olivia Olivares, Shamond Powell, Samantha Taborda, Jesse Quezada, Nadia Bejdaoui, Adrian Campbell, Mallory Hansen, Joel Aguilera, Katia Hernandez, Isaac Cano, Stephanie Ibe, Derrick Demouy, Sarah McBride, Jeffery Godinez, Lauren Sampson, David Stevenson, Fallon Williams, Johnathan Carrillo

Allegro West
Apathetic Notion
Choreographer: Lynsey Steel
Dancers: Maddy Lalonde, Sophia Greenwood, Britney Myers, Savannah Payne, Tai Bora, Mia Mazariegos, Laura Perich, Lauren Gonzalez, Celese Brown, Orianna Monitel
Music: The Fire & Half Life by Imogen Heap
This piece is about the new age of information in which the more readily available information becomes, the more people seem to be apathetic about their instinctual curiosity and let it be satiated by bulleted headlines or influenced by the opinions of others.

Infused Performing Arts
Bollywood Dance Medley
Choreographers: Tina Bose-Kumar & Kiron Kumar
Dancers: Tina Bose-Kumar, Kiron Kumar, Umair Qureshi, Suman Mangu, Nishanth Raj, Jose Mon, Akhila Kumar, Jyothi Asokan, Shalini Patel, Shivani Patel, Pranooha V., Blessina Babu, Shefali Rai, Sanjana Rai, Jithu, Harshita Ganesh, Lakshmi Pillai, Smriti K., Nikitha K, Layaa Raja, Rushi Birudala,
Music : Sadda Dil Vi Tu, Nagada Sang Dhol, Besharam, Dhating Naach, Tamanche Pe Disco, Tooh
Costumes: Tina Bose-Kumar
Bollywood dance that incorporates Classical Indian dance forms ,folk forms, and Western dance styles. The dance begins with a praise dance to Lord Ganapathi, who is known to remove all obstacles. Then we show the beauty of traditional Indian folk dance and end with the upbeat modern genres of Bollywood dance.

Hierro Forjado
Name of Piece: Bulerias de Tatiana
Choreographer(s): Tatiana Reyna & Alexandra D. Simmons N.
Dancers: Leticia Sanchez, Mariana Torrado, Marisol Monasterio, Almoraima Esparis & Alexandra D. Simmons N.
Music: “Tu Mira” by Lole y Manuel
Costumes: Almoraima Esparis & Alexandra D. Simmons N.
A buleria is one of the signature flamenco rhythms. It is a fast and festive 12-beat rhythm that originated in Jerez, Spain. It has old school charm, but remains grounded, powerful and sharp.

Riot Squad
From Here to There
Choreographers: Roland Rasos, Cliff Ledesma, Andrew Nguyen, Wes Holloway
Dancers: Alexia Dos Santos, Allen Silagan, Allison Rodriguez, Ashley Anh Tran, Clara Walz, Elise Gutierrez Hunter, Christian Garcia, Fernando Salguero, Jasmine Tran, Jeffrey Godinez, Kevin Caneda, Kevin Erwin, Luis Campos, Meah Guerin, Madison Vasquez, Michelle Minaschek, Tamara Shabi, Trevon Anderson, Vu To
Costumes: Wes Hollowy
This set shows how hip hop can utilize all elements of dance. We strive to experiment with all forms of dance and movement and apply it to popular music. It’s not just booty shaking!

DPCO 6
Heart Cry
Choreographer: Kassi Richardson
Dancers: Courtney Banfield, Nevaeh Meraz, Makenna Schneider, Olivia Whynot, Teryn Moore, Riley Sock
Music: Heart Cry by Drehz
Costumes: Weissman
“Heart Cry” is a piece about friendship, and the struggle friends go through to support each other during rough times. A girl going through a hard time, and her friends being there for her, to pick her up when she falls. It shows friends trying to help each other, people turning their backs when times get difficult, and the struggle for acceptance. “Heart Cry” also shows how important it is to be there for people when they need you… that sometimes, all someone needs is a helping hand.

Dance from the Heart
El Moro
Choreographer: Anne Caruthers
Dancers: Anne Caruthers, Kimberly Piwetz, Andrea Ghotekar, Suzy Minor, Karen Millerchip, Jade Gibson, Louise McClung, Leslie Mims, Patsy Bucki, Amanda Lindsey
Music: El Moro by Luis Mejia
Costumes: Kimberly Piwetz
When the Domari discover that the Egyptians Act has been renewed with much more severe consequences, they are divided. Knowing they must leave Scotland or face death, they decide the fate of their friends and family.

Fuzion Contemporary Dance Company
Ebb & Flow
Choreographers: Sara Chase, Julian Embers
Dancers: Alicyn Finan, Autumn Fuson, Maritsa Guerrero, Emily Leung, Erin McIntire, Ryan Perez, Arielle Stuehrk, Kyra Timmons
Music: Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling
Costumes: Sara Chase
A mixture of Contemporary Ballet, Jazz & Hip Hop. A signature style for Fuzion Contemporary Dance Company.

Compania Folklorica Alegria Mexicana
Mexico Vivo
Choreographer: Isidro Salas
Dancers: Adrian Rivas, Derrick Miles, Pedro Trujillo, Ben Santillan, Tibisay Guzman, Sasha Rahman, Valerie Ramirez, Berenice Stille, Tanya Sanchez, Leyla Cantu, David Navarro, Azahel Vazquez, Joseph Longoria, Aylyn Munoz, Irene Salas, Janeth Reyes, Leslie Andrade
Music: Potpourri de Nuevo Leon
Representative of the Northern part of Mexico.

SonKiss’d Dance Theatre
Supreme Being
Choreographers: Christopher “YungChris” Thomas
Dancers: Angelita Rozier, Carina Avalanchayy, Ryan Hollaway, Cindy Estevez, Corey Greene, Cedric Hicks, Tyler Mauro, Lathasia Danielle, Tressica Thomas, Courtney Ned, Sandra Nwigwe, YungChris
Painter: Mark Deleon
Poet: Olga Hernandez
Music: Deep Space by Electric Sky, Beautiful Things by Gungor
This piece describes the characteristics of God. He is who he is. The great I Am.

Dance of Asian America
Chinese Opera
Dance of Asian America
Choreographer: Liu Ling Li
Dancers: Allison Chang, Stephanie Chang, Michelle Huang, Connie Hwang, Pamela Liou, Sharon Pan,Chelsea Wang, Emily Yao, Leslie Yeh, and Tiffany Zhang
Music: Chinese Operatic Music
Chinese Opera is one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. These dancers explore the different characteristics of a Chinese opera actor.

Presenting Houston’s cosmopolitan dance community in one splendid evening of performances. Experience the excitement of time-honored traditions and brilliant innovations by dancers who shine center-stage in the most diverse city in the USA.  This spectacular line-up includes contemporary, ballet, hip hop, tap, Indian barata nayam, classical Chinese, Afro-Colombian, tap, and Mexican ballet folklorico.

Featuring:

Danser, éternuer, puis danser (Dance, sneeze, then dance) by Ad Deum ll Dance Company
Rasa by Aguilera Dance Company
MAHADEVA by Anjali Dance Company
China Dolls by Dance of Asian America
Somos Solei by Danzas Folkloricas de Solei
3 piece by FLY Dance Company
Resolute by Group Acorde
Home by Inertia Dance Company
1 by Infused Performing Arts
Rag Mop by Leap Dance Center
Intersections by Meyerland Dance Ensemble
Yield by NobleMotion Dance
This Island’s Mine by Open Dance Project
Mi Champeta by Social Movement Contemporary Dance
Reminisce by Uptown Dance Company

This event is sponsored by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, and William and Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust.

Photos by Lynn Lane and An Le.