Fundraiser Shows Dancers What They’re Made Of

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

The Davis Contemporary Dance Company held a Holiday Fundraiser and Preview Concert December 13 at the Shwayder Theatre. With $5.00 tickets, and a silent auction. $1500 was raised. The money raised will go toward costumes and theatre costs Artistic Director, Terrell Davis, indicated.

Davis Dance Concert

The Fundraiser was in preparation for the Dance Concert scheduled for January 8 & 9, 2010 at the Performing Arts Complex at PCS (I-25 & 84th Ave in Federal Heights. Davis provided a taste of what could be expected for the concert. From the taste presented, the concert promises to be a feast of eye-catching breath-taking choreography.

Debbie Stark of Dance Kaleidoscope and Denise Danza of Danza Dance Academy emceed the production.

The Preview featured two stunning pieces by the Davis Contemporary Dance Company, choreographed by Davis, and Dance Kaleidoscope’s Elite and Senior Advance Companies along with the Danza Academy’s Senior Performing Company.

However, the Fundraiser provided far more to the dancers, most of them high school girls, than they anticipated. Before the Fundraiser, they thought of themselves as dancers. Now, weeks after, there should be no question in their minds. Dancers they are, having been asked to do what no dancer should ever be asked to do.

Prior to the Preview, the dancers were greeted with an unusual challenge. Instead of a flat stage they thought they would be dancing on, they discovered, the set for a production of Fiddler On the Roof, which closed Sunday afternoon did not have enough time for the set to be struck. Three quarters of the stage was filled by a large 10 sided 6 inch high platform constructed in the shape of a piece for a large jigsaw puzzle. No dance group should ever have to be asked, or expected, to perform on and around it. To avoid falls or injury some of the choreography needed to be revamped on the spot. In spite of the inconvenienced difficulties, and the obvious affect it had on the dancers, the result was an astonishing production attended to by some young, dedicated, and accomplished dancers. As performers, they may not have felt at the end of the concert they were able to do their very best because of the staged surprise, but every single one of them need to hold their heads high with a gleam in their eye for the mere fact they could perform at all under the unusual circumstances. Not only did they have to work around, and on the jigsaw, additional set pieces remained in place for the dancers to avoid.

The concert began with 9 dancers from the Davis Company interpreting an excerpt from The Life According to Annie choreographed by Davis smooth, heartrending, and strong.

Dance Kaleidoscope’s Elite Company followed with War Between Two Hearts, which became a little choppy in places. Under the circumstances, that had to be overlooked.

The Danza Senior Performing Company, choreographed by Lauren Hinton danced to Comes And Goes In Waves.

Dance Kaleidoscope’s Senior Advanced Company came alive with Shaken Up, choreographed by Davis.

A video followed featuring Davis in class at Dance Kaleidoscope, speaking and demonstrating his philosophy of dance, how it is more than dance, how it applies to life.

Following Intermission Aubrey Klinger, a member of the Davis Company, and who teaches at Dance Kaleidoscope, performed a heart wrenching except from Life According to Annie, Tell Me. Not only a strong, powerful dancer, Klinger is a precise, exciting dancer knocking the socks off and then neatly folding them at your feet. She draws you in to feel what she feels with every drawn breath and graceful, crackling move.

Kaleidoscope’s Senior Advanced Company performed Dancing on Clouds to be premiered at the January Concert, choreographed by Davis.

Jessica Johnson from the Danza Academy, performed There’s No One Here But Us, choreographed by Davis exemplifying a young girl blossoming into womanhood. Johnson took the breath away.

Kaleidoscope’s Elite group caught the attention with Guardian Angel, choreographed by Davis depicting not only the reality of our spiritual guardian angels, but the angels surrounding and supporting through friendship as vital and, rich, and as important as every Guardian Angel watching over that menacing platform.

Danza’s Senior Performing Company performed Dance For Mary Jane, choreographed by Davis, stressing the need for, the wanting, the struggle high school girls go through to gain individuality.

Davis through his choreography demonstrated a unique insight into the girls he teaches, carefully choosing pieces that speak directly to their lives, and consequently, the lives of anyone fortunate to be a part of the audience.

The production concluded with Static Eruptions by the Davis Company, a thrilling dance piece, with annoying intended accompaniment. Static Eruptions made the eyes happy, but the ears would appreciate the accompaniment to be slightly refined. Davis lives up to his Mission statement for the Davis Contemporary Dance Company, which is:
The Davis Contemporary Dance Company is a multicultural, world-class arts organization, whose mission is to enrich the lives of many through the powerful language of dance. Rooted in the disciplines of Jazz Dance, but not limited by one style. Davis Dance will touch any audience at its core and elevate it to greater heights. Our mission is to bring a greater awareness of dance to many diverse audiences, especially those who’ve never been exposed to the beauty of dance. Davis Dance will always be accessible to all people, over looking all economic and social standings. We will continuously broaden people’s horizons to dance by using live performances, master classes, children’s workshops, lecture demonstrations and collaborations with many different artists.

Winners of the Silent Auction:
Rob Mitchell - Silver Black Onyx Bracelet
Paula Britton - Holiday Kitchen Basket
Rob Dillion - Gift Basket from Bath & Body Works
Paula Schmitt - Bath and Body Works Basket
Linda Pope - Starbucks Tea Gift Basket
Suzanne Brauch - Yoga/Wellness Party for Eight
Maria Ash - Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket
Maria Ash - Haircut and Highlights
Roman Sanchez - Six Tickets To Davis Contemporary Dance Winter Repertory Concert
Nickolas Duckworth and Erin E. Bales - Decorative Throw
W. Walker - Bacardi, Inc. Gift Basket
Brooke Stark - Framed Concert Poster
Cecelia Jones - Samba Room Gift Certificate
Nickolas Duckworth and Erin E. Bales - Eight Contemporary Jazz Classes
Nickolas Duckworth and Erin E. Bales - Davis Dance Summer Intensive Full Tuition Scholarship
Bruce Jensen - Two Autographed Nuggets Pendants
Bruce Jensen - Autographed Denver Nuggets Dancers Poster

The Davis Contemporary Dance Company, Dance Kaleidoscope, and the Danza Academy, amongst the highly competitive dance groups in the Denver Metropolitan arena, are indeed facets to tuck into the consciousness. They have heart. At the Fundraiser, they surrounded the giant jigsaw puzzle piece with that heart, proving their mettle.