By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A mix of dance styles, choreography and performers will grace the stage Saturday for Fireweed Dance Theatre’s Gala Performance.
“It’s a variety show,” said Melinda McAdams, the director of Fireweed Dance Theatre. “We have five different choreographers, a piece about language, and some live music. And the choreographers are going to dance together, which will be pretty fun.”
The performance is 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.
The show features dancers from the Sitka Studio of Dance who auditioned for places on the Fireweed junior and senior companies. They can select how many pieces they will be in and chances are audience members will see some performers several times on Saturday.
Fireweed Dance Theatre performers, from left, Virginia Pearson, Lilyana Swisher, Jasmine Nellis and Wren Flowers rehearse recently in preparation for the Gala Performance 7 p.m. Saturday at the PAC. (Photo by James Poulson)
Also joining in will be the New Archangel Dancers for two pieces; there is a guest choreographer, Debby LeVeck, for one piece; and Martha Pearson will sing an aria from Bizet’s “Carmen,” which Fireweed dancers will perform to.
Dancers who spoke to the Sentinel said that, besides the mix of style, music and choreography, they enjoy the emotional range of the dances in Fireweed.
“It’s a really good step outside of the box,” said Aezlynn Nichols, 16, who has been dancing since age 8. “For both the dancers and choreographers they get to express themselves in a different way.”
The Sitka High sophomore is in “Book Dance,” which was choreographed by Laura Turcott for the grand reopening of the Sitka library a few years ago.
“We wanted to do a dance that we could bring back and that was easy to remember. And that people enjoyed,” Nichols said.
Another is “Technicolor Bliss,” which the dancers learned in a two-day workshop, and will be performed by Nichols, sophomore Jasmine Nellis and senior Kelcey Simic. Nichols also will perform in “On My Way.” All were choreographed by Turcott, who grew up dancing at Sitka Studio.
Nichols, who is in the senior company, stepped forward with two other senior company members to join the junior company in one dance, “Goodbye,” choreographed by McAdams.
“It was a really fun dance – we had to learn it in less than 24 hours and finish it the next day, which we did,” she said. “It’s a really fun dance and I enjoy working with the younger girls.”
Nichols is also in a character dance inspired by the late Grace Kelly; and “Sparkles Fire,” a modern piece by guest choreographer LeVeck which was performed at the Fiddle Grind.
Simic is also in “On My Way” and “Unsteady,” choreographed by McAdams; and “Sparkles Fire,” choreographed by Debby LeVeck.
Simic has been dancing since age 4 and joined Fireweed in sixth grade.
“I really like Fireweed because you can do different dance styles, and different types of dances than what we do for recital,” she said. “We have extra rehearsals and performances, and we get to spend more time together, and we’re able to bond over this fun experience.”
She also enjoys watching Nellis and Virginia Pearson in a dance choreographed by DeBell.
She said it’s in the style of ballet, but “a lyrical kind of contemporary ballet.”
“It’s a bit of a contrast from a normal pointe dance,” Simic said. “It’s a dance that is really fun to watch because it’s different than what you normally see people doing in pointe shoes.”
DeBell, who teaches at the studio, choreographed some of the numbers, including “Blue Lips” and “No Drama Drama,” set to a dramatic French song.
“We’re indulging in being dramatic, without any consequences,” DeBell said. “We get to be dramatic without any cause for it.”
DeBell grew up at the studio, taught by McAdams from age four. McAdams now teaches DeBell’s 5-year-old daughter Maisie.
Fireweed Dance Theatre was founded in 2001. Besides the annual Gala Performance, dancers perform at events and venues throughout the year.
It was intended from the start to be different from what one might see at an end-of-the-year recital, which shows off skills learned in each of the classes.
“Recital is all about celebrating dance and people, and we would not do something super sad at recital,” McAdams said. “The idea of exploring emotions and different styles of dance is what Fireweed is all about. People come out on stage multiple times, and you get a mix of happy and sad, and you have a lot more choreographers.”
Performers are, for the senior company, Virginia Pearson, Aezlynn Nichols, Kelcey Simic, Gemma Diehl, Jasmine Nellis, with Sally Everson as a senior company apprentice. The junior company members are Lilyana Swisher, Eir Christianson and Wren Flowers.
Choreographers are McAdams, Turcott, LeVeck, DeBell and Nancy Neel.
Tickets are $20, free for those age 5 and under, and available at fineartscamp.org under the Shows tab; and at the door.
