PRESS RELEASE—August 15, 2008.  SOUL EXPRESSIONS IN THE 2009 ATLANTIC FRINGE FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 1–7, 2008 TICKETS $7  (Halifax, NS)

 

From September 1-7, local dance companies Licensed 2 Groove and the Maritime Dance Performance Group are delighted to present SOUL EXPRESSIONS in the 2009 Atlantic Fringe Festival.  Under the direction of Kendra MacLeod and Kelly Horne respectively, SOUL EXPRESSIONS will be a jam-packed, ten-piece show, featuring some of the most brilliant young dancers in HRM.  The show presents choreography by local dance mavens Rhonda Baker, Susanne Chui, Melanie Ferro, Rachel Franco, Kendra MacLeod, and Kathleen Vessey.

 

Rhonda Baker, one of the Maritime Dance Performance Group’s original founding members, and currently a student at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, has returned to present her latest edition to Performance Group’s repertoire.  The piece is stocked full of very concise and physical movement, juxtaposed with a feeling of physical and emotional abandon.  Baker has been a tour de force the past few years, receiving numerous scholarships from the NS Talent Trust fund, as well as the prestigious Pat Richards Choreographic Award. 

 

Susanne Chui will premiere Lost & Found, a soft, intimate duet with movement that reaches and falls through space, while Mocean Dance's Melanie Ferro presents her athletic, limit pushing piece, Resist.

 

Rachel Franco’s crowd-pleasing Girls explores the ever-exciting world of teenage girls as they prepare for the prom.  Will any boy be able to resist these prom queens? (It's highly doubtful.)  Her second piece in SOUL EXPRESSIONS is so hot is comes with a WARNING: Pumping and Jamming combines the killer moves of the early nineties with contemporary movement with fashion that could potentially blow your mind.  Witness at your own risk.

 

The jazzy Kendra MacLeod offers no less than four pieces with her group of dancers from Maritime Dance Academy’s senior class.  Her work showcases her talent for the fast-paced, energetic style she is best known for, but touches many different genres of jazz including comedic, African, lindy hop, and swing.  Macleod returned to Nova Scotia last year from Calgary where she was studying jazz at the University of Calgary as well as through a scholarship at Canada’s premiere jazz company and school, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.  Her work is sure to entertain any audience, and provide them with an enjoyable feast for their eyes!

 

Kathleen Vessey will premiere a piece where the soft and delicate meets bursts of aggression; a study in contrast and struggle.  This has been a banner year for Vessey, as not only was she was recognized as the winner of the ages 18+ category of Dance Nova Scotia’s Taking Steps to Fly showcase for emerging youth choreographers, but she was also the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for 2008 from the Maritime Dance Performance Group.

These dazzling dancers are ready to entertain audiences with SOUL EXPRESSIONS.  It will take you on a lively journey of humour and groove that the whole family can enjoy.  SOUL EXPRESSIONS hits the stage as part of the Atlantic Fringe Festival on Monday, September 1 @ 5:30 AND 7:30 pm, Friday, September 5 @ 8:15 pm, Saturday, September 6 @ 6:30 pm, and Sunday, September 7 @ 5:30 pm.  Tickets are only $7, and are available at the door or in advance through the Fringe Festival’s main kiosk in the foyer of Neptune’s Studio Theatre. 

Thanks to our SOUL EXPRESSIONS sponsors…

DON SCHELEW DRY CLEANING

MARITIME DANCE ACADEMY

NOVA TROPHY

SOUL EXPRESSIONS was named the FRINGE HIT for the DANSpace venue!  Thank you to the 180+ people who came out to support our show.  Click here to check out the review in the Halifax Herald online.