Thursday, December 6, 2007

Noel Night Fun

CompanyOne and DanceAfrica Detroit

Two performances.  Two full houses.  Despite cold, windy, snowy weather, CompanyOne's 2007-2008 debut was fantastic.  African, lindy-hop, tap, and hip-hop with drums and singing by the 15-member ensemble plus director Karen Prall and her assistant, daughter Basira,  had both audiences sitting on the edge of their seats.

This program, set to tour area schools in early 2008, helps connect artistic influences from the past to popular forms of today.  Schools receive multimedia curriculum guides, so students not only enjoy the performance, but can continue to learn in the classroom.

Ballet at the DIA

Families crowded the Kresge gallery on the second floor of the DIA to watch our dancers perform a series of variations, improvisations, and Megan Brunke's choreography.  Well over 300 audience members in a standing-room-only situation smiled through the leaps, turns, and energy of our performers, who, after the 30-minute performance, led the group out of the DIA to the carol-singing celebration of Noel Night.