NEWPORT, R.I. – Salve Regina’s Extensions Dance Company, the university’s select dance ensemble, will present its annual concert, featuring works ranging from contemporary ballet to classical jazz during three performances later this month at the Casino Theatre.
Performances will be given on Thursday, Feb. 16 and Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Casino Theatre is located at 9 Freebody St. Ticket prices range from $7 for students to $15 for general admission and can be purchased online at www.tinyurl.com/salvecasino or by calling the box office at 401-341-2250.
Directed by Lindsay Guarino, assistant professor of dance, the Extensions Dance Company is a group of 16 dancers who are offered placement in the concert dance ensemble by audition. The dancers have spent the past months working with guest, faculty and student choreographers.
Two of this year’s guest choreographers are visiting artists from New York City. Joe Celej, who dances with the acclaimed Elisa Monte Dance Company, choreographed a modern dance piece titled “Invisible Waves.”
Celej is an internationally recognized teaching artist, dancer, and choreographer who has set original works at The Houston Met, the Elisa Monte Dance Choreographic Initiative, Zodiaque Dance Company, and a number of dance festivals throughout the nation.
Also visiting from New York City is Melissa Gendreau, founder and director of Perceptions Contemporary Dance Company. Perceptions performs nationally, and she recently developed a West-Coast branch titled “Perceptions West.”
Gendreau’s original work, “Slander,” is a contemporary dance piece which illustrates bullying amongst adolescents. Additional works will be presented by guest choreographer Danielle Genest of Newport’s Island Moving Company, Guarino and fellow Salve Regina faculty member Ali Brodsky, and a number of student choreographers.