Dance the night away

Rio Hondo's Dance Department's spring event was a showcase that featured the work of a class in which students whose experience ranged from newcomer to seasoned dance veteran. While the actual dancer were choreographed by both faculty or students or both. Whomever it was one thing was certain a passion for the subject matter was apparent.

The opening dance was "Understory" and featured dancers dressed in black leotards and feathered masks. The dancers referenced famous dance routines from Broadways 'The Lion King' to the ballet classic 'Swan Lake.' The dance featured choreography where dancers moved about the stage like so many animals flocks of birds to jungle beasts and was a beautiful showing of grace and strength.

A continuation from the Dance Departments fall event entitled 'A Works in Progress' one of the dances 'Dance of the Dolls' had been brought to the springs showing and this time had grown from a work in progress to a full fledged dance piece.

Originally a macabre cabaret act featuring burlesque styled dancing 'dolls' set to modern songs the newest dance had gained a story and dancers.

The story reminiscent of Fantasia's 'The Sorcerer's Assistant' had dancing marionette dolls whose movement and life was wrenched from dance puppeteer and then turned onto their former masters. The student choreographed piece was an amazing show of Rio Hondo student's talent.

The dance was a breathtaking and invigorating piece featuring a mix of modern and classic choreography set to songs by the baroque-rock band Panic at the Disco! and R&B pop singer Rihanna.

One of the later dances was part of the 'Three of Three' dances and was a tribute to America's fallen soldiers and our generation of soldiers.

The piece, which department head Alyson Cartagena, was held in silence say for the sounds of war. A moving piece the audience was captivated and moved by a dance whose choreography was stark and harsh and featured training camp drills.

The piece 'Piedra y Luz' was a moving dance piece which told the struggle of the struggles of Mexican, or Latin, immigrants to reach American soil through desert and border patrol sweeps. The dance also featured the triumphant spirit of people and the happiness of their culture which was shown by a dance piece performed by guest dancers from Cerritos college and the music of Celia Cruz.

Just as the falls showcase the springs 'Evening of Dance' featured a piece of pure improvisation with wild movements in sync to the accompanying sounds which showed the true nature of dance.Other dances performed were as stirring as those mentioned and ranged from duo choreography like the first piece performed from the set of 'Three of Three' which featured an Argentine Tango on folding chairs to a short duo dance and a colorful hip-hop dance choreographed to Flo-Rida's 'Right Round.'

The final piece of the night featured choreography by Rio's rising star Brandon Chau. The dance was choreographed to Chris Brown's 'Forever,' M.I.A.'s Oscar nominated "O Saya", and Linkin Park's "Cure for the itch". The piece was an amazing upbeat and diverse dance with lively music and dance which exhibited the true talent of this Rio dance student.

Following the showcase students received awards ranging from 'Most Improved' to the Dance Departments version of MVP 'Dancer of the Year'. Rio's 'Evening of Dance' was well worth the time and really showcased the unknown talent present in the department's dedicated and amazing talent.

Both instructors and students should be proud of the amazing job done not only to entertain but to express the soul of dance, its accessibility and power.