St. George Dance Company, Southwest Symphony come together for ‘Halloween Spooktacular’

A performer with the St. George Dance Company, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of the St. George Dance Company, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The St. George Dance Company, a professional modern dance group, will collaborate with the Southwest Symphony in the annual “Halloween Spooktacular.”

This wickedly-fun performance will take place Friday at the Dixie State University Cox Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. and will feature three pieces by the St. George Dance Company, as well as musical magic performed by the symphony.

Choreographer Katherine Call has created a dance scene from “The Chronicles of Narnia,” a series of stories written by C.S. Lewis, which have been adapted for film many times and brilliantly captured in Disney’s version, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

With this film’s score, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, the dancers will portray the magical creatures of Narnia dueling with the magic of the evil Snow Queen.

Dancers performing are Hollie Reina, Bethany Gee, Rebekah Wainwright, Courtney Pearce and Sherlynn Davis.

Choreographer Rebekah Wainwright tells the European folklore of Schubert’s “Erlkonig (Earl King),” an elvish creature of death that lured children into the forest to their doom.

The story begins with a father riding home through the woods with his son who has fallen ill. Through their journey, one can constantly hear the pulse of the horse’s gallop while the father reassures the son that he will be fine.

The young boy notices the Earl King in the woods and pleads with his father to protect him, only to have his father dismiss his claims. The score changes from a gloomy minor to a fanciful major, as the tone reflects the enticing of the Earl King.

Dancers performing are Katherine Call, Bethany Gee and Rebekah Wainwright.

St. George Dance Company Artistic Director, Summer Belnap Robertson has created a dance to the main theme from “Avatar (I See You).”

On the lush planet of Pandora live the Na’vi beings, who appear primitive but are highly evolved. In the story, humans wish to colonize Pandora in order to mine valuable minerals, and human/Na’vi hybrids, called Avatars, must be linked to a human mind to allow for free movement on the Pandora planet.

Dancers Jennie Jones and Cassidee Edmunds appear in blue Pandora costumes. Edmunds plays the role of the Na’vi, and Jones dances the part of a genetically engineered Na’vi body with her mind remotely located in her human body. In this way, Jones’ character is able to interact with the natives of Pandora and learn the peaceful and respectful ways of the Na’vi beings.

In addition to these works, the symphony will also play a very exciting line up that is fun for the entire family. Musical selections include “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,” highlights from “Wicked,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” the theme from “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” the march from “Superman” and selections from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Tickets for the “Halloween Spooktacular” will be available for purchase online. Or, purchase season tickets for the Southwest Symphony by calling the DSU box office at 435-652-7800.

Children in costumes are admitted free.

Event details

  • What: The Southwest Symphony “Halloween Spooktacular,” featuring the St. George Dance Company
  • When: Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: DSU Cox Center for the Performing Arts, 325 S. University Ave., St. George
  • Cost: students $5; adults $15; seniors $12; children in costume free

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

 

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