AACC Dance Company Plans Trio of Performances

      Spend an upcoming weekend watching eclectic, entertaining and dynamic performances by the AACC Dance Company and its alumni in celebration of the company’s 20^th anniversary year.

      The current company will showcase its talent in “Spring Migration” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9; while company alumni perform “Spring Migration, Take Two,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9. The fancy footwork for all three shows takes place on the Pascal Center for Performing Arts stage on the Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway.

      Dance Company fans will enjoy seeing the return of two favorite pieces of artistic director Lynda P. Fitzgerald, AACC coordinator of performing arts -- dance, as well as her new work, “Crackers!” set to music by Finis Jhung.

      Back again is “Perspectives,” an amusing look at dance set to music by Outback that employs varying stage curtain heights to direct the audience’s eye. “Falling for You,” a piece favorably adjudicated this spring at the American College Dance Festival, takes a humorous look at falling off balance to the music of George Bizet and Giuseppe Verdi. The light-hearted “Crackers!” was born out of playing with the accumulated, rhythmic patterns of the music, Fitzgerald said.

      The bulk of “Spring Migration” choreography is by AACC Dance Company members. Rebekah Fresco of Annapolis teamed with Samuel Boquist of Arnold on an intense modern duet set to Chopin. Fresco assisted Amanda Rambali of Crofton with a solo that Rambali will dance set to music by The Beatles.

      Boquist created a strong hip-hop piece connected to Bob Sinclair’s music. Leonard Williams of Glen Burnie cleverly blends the dance styles of hip hop, voguing and breaking to music by M.I.A. Griffin Palmer of Crofton devised a challenging, athletic piece involving lifts and ensemble work. He and Leah Smearman of Arnold choreographed a strong duet, as well, to the music of William Orbit. Shalyce Hemby of Cheverly crafted a diverse piece combining hip hop, contemporary and modern movement.

      Back for a solo is its creator, Andre Hinds of Pasadena, who also choreographed a strong group piece. Colleen Keck of Severna Park choreographed an intense, modern duet for Shalyce Hemby and Anwar Thomas of Mitchellville set to James Horner’s music.

      The Dance Company alumni afternoon concert features alumni works performed by alumni and current company members. Participating alumni are Sarah Keller and Kathleen Ryan, both of Arnold; Lauren Burkhead and Leandra Quiroz, both of Annapolis; Jennifer Kohlhafer of Severn; Katie Harrington of Stevensville; Hanna Thornhill of Mitchellville and Sandra Andrzejewski of Baltimore. The alumni concert will close with a fun, familiar piece involving all of the alumni and current company.

      Tickets are on sale at the AACC theater box office by calling 410-777-2457 or e-mailing boxoffice@aacc.edu. Prices are $7 for AACC students; $10 for AACC faculty, staff, senior citizens and non-AACC students and $15 general admission. Be sure to alert the box office if someone in your party requires special accommodations.