Danger Zone Dance Project Presents “Can You See Me In The Big Picture?”

“Can You See Me In The Big Picture?” this spring’s offering from the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts DZDP Dance Company at Culver City High School, features an exciting array of student and faculty choreography, along with live music from the Academy’s percussion and string ensembles. Following a 3-year tradition, the concert will be presented as an evening-length work that will feature dances seamlessly woven together with unique theatrical transitions, creating a special evening of dance theater.

“Can You See Me In The Big Picture?” refers to the dancer’s life in the larger perspective and will include a life-sized photo frame that the dancers will “dance” in, around, and behind throughout the evening. “As ideas about being lost and being found in a large world merged with ideas about finding yourself and your artistic voice, so were the ideas about the theme of the concert”, Artistic Director Julie Carson explains. “We talked about the cartoon, ‘Where’s Waldo?’ as we explored ideas about finding an individual in a crowd. In our choreography class, we worked on studies centering around a time when each of us felt lost. From there, the seed of the concert was launched. The Danger Zone Dance Project students have really come into their own when it comes to choreography. Many of the dance students have studied for several years, and this year their work will be the highlight of the program, along with our very special guests, the string and percussion ensembles from the Academy’s music department.”

This year, many of the choreography students had the unique opportunity to see a few of our well-known Los Angeles professional choreographers at work, including Donna Sternberg and Heidi Duckler. Learning about these artists’ perspectives was eye-opening for our students, and is key to the work that they have created. After studying Donna Sternberg’s choreographic philosophy and seeing her company perform, one student commented, “I would not have been able to comprehend this before dancing with the AVPA. I loved Donna Sternberg’s concert, and I’m so excited to begin choreographing for our concert!”

Featuring live drumming and a 22-piece string ensemble, along with the exciting and creative dances made by AVPA students and faculty, this years’ dance concert is not to be missed.

“Can You See Me In The Big Picture?” will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, at 7:00 PM, and on Sunday, May 1 at 1:00 PM, in the Robert Frost Auditorium, on the campus of Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda St, Culver City. General admission is $12; discounted price of $8 for ASB, faculty, seniors, and children under12.

The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Culver City High School offers a comprehensive arts curriculum after regular school hours for students who are committed to excellence in Art, Film, Theatre, Dance, and Music. Established in 1996, AVPA enjoys tremendous community support from Sony Pictures Entertainment and other design, recording, and theatre companies in the area. For more information about the Academy, go to www.avpa.org or contact Tony Spano at 310-842-4200 x6094 or Kristine Hatanaka at 310-842-4200 x6001.

Julie Carson, Creative Director of Dance, can be reached at: [email protected]

The Actors' Gang

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