Spring Dance Concert

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Spring Dance Concert
Spring Dance Concert

May 1 – 3

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914-251-6200
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The Conservatory of Dance is honored to present re-stagings of two seminal works by modern and ballet masters Martha Graham and George Balanchine.

Appalachian Spring, Martha Graham’s influential modern work from 1944 features iconic minimalist sets by longtime collaborator Isamu Noguchi as well as a celebrated score by Aaron Copland, which will be performed by the Purchase Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mina Kim. Additionally, esteemed Conservatory of Dance faculty member and former New York City Ballet soloist, Bettijane Sills, will re-stage the iconic Serenade (1934), the first ballet that Balanchine made in America, set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, also performed by the Purchase Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mina Kim.

In addition to these beloved classics, we are excited to premiere three new works by celebrated multigenerational Conservatory of Dance alumni—Jenelle Figgins ‘11, Davalois Fearon ‘05, and Doug Varone ‘78.

Princess Grace Awardee Jenelle Figgins, currently in her fourth season with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, will present an exciting new contemporary pointe work. Meanwhile, Bessie award-winning Davalois Fearon unveils a new work exploring topics related to the environment, race, gender, and sexuality. She translates words, images, emotions, and situations into a hybrid movement vocabulary, both rooted in her Jamaican immigrant background and her professional contemporary/postmodern dance background.

We round out the program with a new work by award-winning choreographer, director, faculty member, and contemporary master Doug Varone. Co-commissioned  by The Performing Arts Center and the Conservatory of Dance, the work was created for Varone’s own company along with students from the Conservatory of Dance. It premieres on March 28, 2020 in The Performing Arts Center as part of Doug Varone’s season and will be re-staged for the Purchase Dance Company.

There will be a pre-show artist talk before the May 1 performance, beginning at 7:15pm.

Click to learn more about The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College.