Estrella Mountain Community College’s student company, DancEstrella, will present four performances of and the heart beats on. This program features Practicum dances by Assistant Directors, Carissa Salgado-Garcia and Jade Teller; duets by Choreography 2 dance majors Denise Lopez and Audrey Richards; collaborative choreography by students in Performance classes as well as full company works by Artistic Director, Janaea Lyn McAlee. Performances will take place at the EMCC Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4, 2021 with shows at 3:00pm and 7:00pm both days. General admission is free and audience members will also have the opportunity to participate in a brief discussion with dancers at the end of each show. Seating is limited and there is a mask mandate when indoors at all Maricopa Community College campuses.

The dances choreographed for and the heart beats on… are based on the students’ experience of loss and personal struggle but also of unexpected gifts and self-determination that have all been a part of this pandemic time. Professor McAlee explains that “Now that we are back in person and able to dance and create together, students have wanted to express both the difficulties they have been through and a newfound commitment to living the life they truly want. The quote we selected to underscore this idea is by Jhos Singer, “We are here to rejoice and grieve and tremble and dance.”

The Practicum dances (final projects by dance majors) include A Piece of You, a trio by Carissa Salgado-Garcia which is based on the recent loss of family members, while Distraction, a trio by Jade Teller explores how to hold focus when there are so many things are calling for attention. Choreography 2 students created two very different duets. How Two Became One, by Audrey Richards, explores dynamics in a love relationship while Denise Lopez investigates the tension between mind and body in Metanoia. Collaborative dances by the Performance class students reflect on overcoming betrayal and imposed expectations to discover new connections and self-confidence. A Rhythm to It, by Professor McAlee, is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life and human experiences which transcend time, geography or culture.

Eventestrellamountain.edu

Dance Information: Janaea Lyn McAlee, Residential Dance Faculty

ude.niatnuomallertsenull@ecnad

Carissa Salgado-Garcia and Jade Teller – Photo by Linda Keyes