|
| Youngsters hoof through history By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:49 AM PDT More than 100 young dancers will showcase America’s popular culture in dance from its beginnings, when the Shely Pack Dancers present “There’s Something About America” this weekend. The performance is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at the Skyline College Theater, at 3300 College Drive in San Bruno. “This is different aspects of our pop culture in America through all the centuries we’ve been around,” said Pack Dancers founder Shely Pack-Manning. From the beginning moments with American composer Aaron Copland’s rousing “Rodeo,” “There’s Something About America” brings the country’s colorful, popular culture alive in a shimmering panoply of eras and movements, through jazz, modern, ballet, tap, and hip-hop dance. It’s set to the music of the times, with the dancers wearing costumes culled from theater houses across the country, which parents helped trim. The history begins when the country’s does: There is a Native American piece. The Civil War era is captured in a genteel way with “Rhett and the Scarletts.” The 1920s swirl to life with the Charleston, the 1940s bounce sassily with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and for the 1950s, they do the Twist. But the history remains true, not adjusted for entertainment value. “It’s not all light,” said Pack-Manning. The Native American number, for example, is “very intense,” she said, touching on Black Elk and Little Bighorn. The 1960s social unrests, psychedelic culture, protests and early-1970s Kent State student shootings are set to the haunting rock ballad “For What It’s Worth.” There is even one contemporary pointe number to composer Phillip Glass’ “Rubric,” which epitomizes circa-1950s abstract art and literature. Many of the numbers are danced by ensembles, and the production also highlights Pack Dancers stars. Brother and sister JP, 13, and Lexi Viernes, 16, will do solo routines from the country’s history; She is a former Dance Masters of America Teen Miss Dance of California, and he is the reigning Junior Mr. Dance of America. Also featured will be Jackie Clark, former teen Miss Dance of California, dancing to “Stormy Weather,” set at the end of the 1940s. Many of the dancers come from Pack Dancers Junior and Senior performing companies. The latter is made up of students age 10-12, and the latter, of students age 13-18. The production will also see the debut of the new Petites company, in “Rhett and the Scarletts.” Among the featured younger dancers is 7-year-old Kira Ackerman, who will perform her first solo to “Baby Mine,” which will hail the work and era of Walt Disney. A production centered on Americana was chosen to coincide with the timing of 25 Pack Dancers students from the Junior and Senior companies traveling to Washington D.C. July 2-11 to perform and compete on the occasion of Dance Masters of America’s 125th anniversary. Tickets for “There’s Something About America” will be available at $25/adults and $20/youth under 12 at the door, or $20/adults and $15/youth under 20 in advance. For advance tickets or information, call the Pack Dancers at 726-7811 or visit www.shelypackdancers.com. |