Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Ballet progi By CAREN CAMPBELL Features editor The style, grace and expertise of Russian ballet has come to USC. One of Moscow's leading ballet teachers is conducting classes here at the S.C. Summer Dance Institute which runs from July 24 through Aug. 11 and is sponsored by USC and the Columbia City Ballet. Raisa Struchkova, a veteran Bolshoi prima ballerina and coach of the Bolshoi's leading artists, is teaching dance at the institute. Several other prominent guest instructors like Arnold Spohr, artistic director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Patricia Wilde, artistic director of the Pittsburgh Ballet are also teaching. Struchkova, who was on the tour when Nureyev defected, is editor-in-chief of Soviet Ballet, the foremost dance p&blication in the USSR. She is staying in an on-campus apartment on The Horseshoe during her visit. Director of the institute and USC's dance program Susan Anderson said she decided - to decorate the apartment before Struchkova arrived " because when she first went to look at this apartment it looked like she was back in Siberia! Struchkova started teaching Monday and will continue until Aug. 4, and Wilde will give master classes Aug. 7 through Aug. 11. Spohr who was part of the institute last year, was guest artist from July 24 through Friday. "He's about 70 years old, but he's full of life and he's funny as can be and it's wonderful," Anderson said. Having just retired from his company, he is doing a lot of guest teaching and will return to Canada where he is also teaching, Anderson said. Other instructors include Anderson; William Starrett, artistic director of the Columbia City Ballet and codirector of the institute; and Annie Day, a jazz teacher and choreographer from Atlanta. Also, Debra Bricker, a Columbia City Ballet soloist; Wrenn Cook, director of Wrenn Cook & Dancers of Columbia; Melody Schaper, professor of modern dance at ? pri| * m Dancers of the S.C. Summer Dance Institute improve looks on as her pupils dance. Cultural Series ] The Cultural Series offers a variety of classical. Tick* of entertainment for people of all students and $10 ages. dividual tickets gc This year all performances will be 25, 1989. at 8 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Harlem Boys C Arts, said Eddie Daniels, associate 7. director of programs and advisor to Founded in the Carolina Program Union. Church in Centr The performances for the 1989 York City, the Bo seafJ are: # has developed fr Yellowjackets - October 9. choir into a maj With their hit album, Four Cor- institution o ners, nominated for a Grammy reputation. Award as Best Jazz Album," the An ensemble o: Yellowjackets prove to be a leader live band, the among jazz groups today. Russell phenomenal shov Ferrante (keyboards), Jimmy Haslip selections, spirit (bass), Marc Russo (alto and soprano choreographed p saxophones) and Will Kennedy won't want to rr (drums) describe themselves as for USC student "... a democracy at work ? public. Individua four musicians from four different October 24, 1989 backgrouds, collaborating to make a The Wiz ? F musical statement with a point ot This Broadw, view." Nipsey Russell, The Yellowjackets' music encom- musical version c passes jazz, rock and blues, and a bit Wizard of Oz." illsPi H f I iv. jMjjj^^L ^K^^hhk JHHH^^B Oriental acrobats Bao Dao perform with grace and bea ram features USC is coming in for the last week to help teach; and Barbara-jay, an actress and singer with more than 30 years experience gives acting class. Technique is focus of institute The institute is open to students with all levels of training and dance background. Two programs are offered: one for beginning dancers" ; age 9-13 and another for skilled dancers age 14 and up." . o-ii i:. :i.uu .? i c. v^onege cicuu is avctuauic iu siuucma iu anu uiu^i "Last year we had a lady from Denmark who was about , 30," Anderson said. .. The dance institute whi?h vides training in ballet, jazz and ^ about 45 to 60 people per week. "\ The dancers stay in Columbia Hall, and lltttough ttil/' program is three weeks long, students can stay for Ottty one or two weeks if they wish, Anderson said. 1 ^ Sessions on nutrition, ballet theory, acting., costume design, and music are also offered. V ^ However, 4at ! classical ballet dancer," Anderson said, "and the dancers that come to us are really looking for professional careers." Because of that, instructors focus on technique. Students take five classes everyday and then attencl lectures from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. In fact, the students at-| i tended a lecture on injury and prevention which Ander- ? son said came at a good time because "all those girls ly- ? >nrr r>n thp flr?r?r n?oH thic lertnre!" Several of her lit W6 V. w.x. ..X. - g students have been injured over the last few weeks. Some of the girls didn't know to put ice on an injury, | and Anderson even had a chance to refresh her memory V on things like acute and delayed injuries. Ruth Ann Collins, owner of Collins Modeling Agency, gave a lecture on modeling because many dancers end up making their living modeling because they are in % shape, and they can move for the camera, Anderson said. Classes are held in the dance studios at the Solomon V* their styles and exercise their abilities. Insert: Veteran Bolsl presents music an are for USC for the public. In> on sale September hoir ? November ? 1968 at Ephesus I# tHalls al Harlem in New ML W flBH ys Choir of Harlem WM email rhurch ?P op show that you iiss' Tickets are $5 Taj Mahal exhibits his witty ch ts and $10 for the performing. 1 tickets go on sale tures Dorot^y jn the Land of Oz are set to a spectactular array of ebruary 13. rock, gospel and soul. You'll be ay hit, featuring dazzled by its energy and charmed by is a contemporary wjt an?j wjsciom. )f "The Wonderful From the producers of "A Chorus The famous adven- Line," "The Music Man," and g|f|||?? "42nd Street," this show promises "total" entertainment. Tickets are $6 for USC students and $12 for the public. Individual tickets go on sale \ Bao Dao ? March 19. IP Bao Dao is loosely translated as "treasure island" or beautiful island. ^ This company represents 45 of jPp4\ Taiwan's most outstanding musi| """ cians, dancers, acrobats and magi*\ 1*^* ***' i cians. Directed by Chin Chang, with lUP choreography by Lui Chin Chang, j^4 M the company performs an oriental exft) travaganza of Chinese performing V ipM additional to the contemporary. Bao Dao celebrates 2,000 years of performing arts that began as royal presentations only and is now available for all the world to see and luty. : top-notch i Blatt Physical Education Center here on campus. Students are able to use the Blatt Center's facilities, including the Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts, sauna and lockers. The university has given the institute \ another dance studio to use that is adjacent to the one they currently use. I Tuition for the institute is $150 per week, and housing and meal plans also are available at the university. Improving individual style Some of the students at the institute can dance and ih<% are pretty to look at, but they have no technique, An&erson said. So, the dancers will be learning how to itaipr&ye their styles as they attain the proper training. ' K *They get really, really correct training so when they leave they have become educated. Not only because they aie more physically educated, but mentally they're more educated and the whole quality of dance across the state Of SX. will improve." " ^'Our biggest problem is that we've had about 10 girls injured," Anderson said. One of the main reasons for the injuries is that many of the girls'warm up, but then cool dowu before they dance. Anderson said, "They're also being pushed by world||^ass%fe^h#s and some of these girls are really not in good strong shape, and we warn them about that way f fhead of time." iJProgram has international scope | The institute, funded by USC's College of Humanities |C|nd Social Sciences, enrolls students from throughout the H-|jnited States and Europe. "We're able to provide top instruction in Columbia, so nr\ lnnrror ho\;a t r\ troi/pl tr\ Mpu; Vnrl' Pitt; rtr at.HUUtllLO 11W lUHgu Iiuvv IV i-i u ?vi IV iivvy x VI rv v^nj vi F%is or Moscow," Anderson said. % In fact, that's why the program started. I Jvilliam Starrett approached Anderson with the idea of tftl institute so people could stay in Columbia rather than Li's Alverson/The Gamecock ioi prima ballerina Raisa Struchkova d acrobats Albuir By CAREN CAMI Features editor Eliza Gilkyson's maker from Goldc folk and new age showing her fre songwriting and he . . . ,. . . ... who used to walk i arm and charismatic style while cilkyson also alluc of the environmei enjoy. Tickets are $4 for USC "where are the gi students and $8 for the public. In- usecj t0 know." dividual tickets go on sale March 5, neglect, the green 1990. love, are "gone wil Taj Mahal ? April 26. swept into my hea With exceptional talent, Gilkyson draws< charismatic presence, and musical in- periences as a won tegrity that grew out of his associa- anci an environme tion with many legendary blues making a statemei guitarists, Taj Mahal has risen to the consciousness and top of his field. A powerhouse of ty ancj carrying o folk and blues, Taj Mahal draws on ambiguity her fath the honesty, dignity and emotional In addition, th< power of America's oldest and purest spirit of the Nativ< music. is best exemplified "Song of the Rain Taj Mahal has several albums to 2)" which is an ad; his credit as well as movie sound- tional Zuni Indian tracks for "Sounder," "Brother" The autobiograf and the television movie "The Rainbow Warrior Ewoks." Tickets are $4 for USC wjth thunder and students and $8 for the public. In- tlesnakes. She has dividual tickets go on sale April 12, inai laKe!5 lne ust 1990. journey. But this i Season tickets for the series are $15 ecj with a soul-se< for USC students and $30 for the because Gilkyson public. journey of exper journey of endless nstruction go to New York. Then the College of Humanities and Social Sciences under Dean Carol McGinnis Kay sanctioned the idea and gave them SEED money to get things started. The program not only equals those in New York Anderson said, but it's better especially for South Carolinians. "It's better because otherwise students have to go to New York; they have to pay for their plane fare; they have to siay m some dingy, old, dirty apartment; tney may get one or two classes a day, and they'll end up spending three times as much. All we're doing is bringing these fantastic teachers to the state of South Carolina so our students can stay home." Soviets bring stlye to ballet Anderson said that there is definitely a difference in Soviet and American ballet. "We've copied from them for so many years, and now we got really wise, and we just bring all their teachers over here to teach our students. And the training has gotten so good in this country because of it." For example, it is ironic that Mikhail Baryshnikov, who is from the Kirov Ballet, is also the artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre, she said. Although they only have two male participants this week, Anderson said even that is unusual because males can go to New York for free on scholarships. Anderson is optimistic that male participation will increase because it is only their second year of the program. Dragonlady gets shot in arm Anderson not only teaches, she makes sure that the dancers eat, sleep and get where they're supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. "They call me the Dragonlady because I've got everything running on target," Anderson said. She said it's probably the only structured thing in their lives, so they will learn from the Last year, Ande*s<B> distributee! aqbestibsinake and got little negative-feed back. "T%e only thing they reatfly didn't |ike to do was w$lk back tap the hill to get their food,'' sbe.jfaid about the Bates walkway. Dancing, talking, ahd teaching along with the other gifted instructors haslhcreased Anderson's standards as well as enhanced her teaching abifc*$<&. "It's really fun to be dancing everyday," laughs Anderson. "And I tnink what will be nice for me as the person in charge of dance at the university is I get good students for next year to dance in our own company at the university." She is also excited to be learning again. "It's a real shot in the arm for me every summer!" Lack of dance major hurts USC "We have a large dance company, but no dance major which is really a shame, but we're working on it," Anderson said. She was told that the reason there was no dance major at USC was because of insufficient funds. "The big problem is we absolutely have to have a dance major, because you can't attract students." However, Anderson has prepared and submitted a proposal for a bachelor of fine arts in dance. Anderson is not happy that South Carolina is the only state without a dance major at the major university and that even Winthrop and Columbia College offer dance majors. Although she is frustrated she said Kay has been very supportive. "I think under her aegis we will have a dance major." To further dance here in South Carolina, the S.C. Arts Commission, with a SEED grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, is supposed to be working on putting a dance teacher in every school across the state in order to offer dance in the public school system, Anderson said. "If that's the case, then every single dance major that comes to the universitv will have emDlovment." i blends rock, folk lassie composition 'BELL Legends of Rain- ^ V jst 30 years ago. ^ iguous in the most With phrases like "the ones who ler musical poetry have abused their power" and ;tween two people references to the "Mother of along green fields, humanity," Gilkyson is not making a les to the sad state political statement as much as she is it with lyrics like commenting on man, the political reenfields that we animal, and what he has done to After years of himself and his surroundings, fields, like their Although some are quick to comth a cold wind that pare her to Suzanne Vega, Gilkyson's rt". style is all her own which is best ex3n her personal ex- emplified in "Rosie Strike Back." tan, an entertainer This song pleas for battered women niai aciivisi WflllC IU SlUJJ idMUg llic duusc as 11 says it that emphasizes "don't be his victim," "hit the road social responsibili- and never look back," and "take the n the tradition of baby and the clothes on your back." ler exhibited. Gilkyson is tastefully provocative ; influence of the and fierce in thetradition of Ann and : American culture Nancy Wilson without all the pop in the last verse of hype. bow Warrior (part In "Break the Chain," Gilkyson's aptation of a tradi- ability to make bold statements i song, "Ockaya". about several things at once comes jhical "Song of the through once again, with lyrics like (part 1)" begins "freedom waits for those who break the sound of rat- the chain." a complete sound Gilkysons's spirit embodies the ener on a souiish strength of her as well as all women, s not to be confus- In her own words, "In spite of the arching experience current world situation, we have i's journey a every reason to hope, for within each ience ? not a of us is the potential for compassion, ?* 1 i :_ J n searcn. commumeni anu nciuic uccus.