Rider Dance Ensemble Presents Dances for Africa
Kristin Scott, a professional ballet dancer with the American Repertory Ballet has teamed up with Rider University’s Dance Ensemble to create the Dances for Africa fundraising events for an orphanage in Kenya.
Rider’s Dance Ensemble and dancers from the ARB will present benefit performances to raise money for the Oncata Rongai Christian Women’s Work of Charity Orphanange in Kenya on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at the Yvonne Theater, the main stage of the Fine Arts Center, on the Lawrenceville campus of Rider University. Tickets for each performance are $10 for the general public and $5 for students and Rider University faculty and staff.
This event will be the first time that members of American Repertory Ballet, NJ's leading ballet company will be performing with the more than 30 dancers of the Rider Dance Ensemble. In addition Jennifer Gallegos, '09 will be performing Incense, a seminal work from the early 20th century by Ruth St. Denis, mother of American modern dance. Incense was recreated by Gallegos and Dr. Vaccaro , director of the Rider University/Princeton Ballet School Dance Program, for a St Denis festival last October. Jennifer will be accompanied by Dr. Richard Swain of the Fine Arts Department.
The ensmble has joined forces with volunteers worldwide through the internet. Groups in the Netherlands, Kenya, Los Angeles and Spain are working together to buid a well fo this community. Information is available by googling ProjectxDosomething.
In addition to the talented Ensemble, Dances for Africa performers include guest artists such as former principle of the New York City Ballet, Kyra Nichols, who will speak opening night. Guest choreographers include Princeton Ballet School faculty Mary Barton, Janell Byrne and Christing Bragg, ABR’s Kristin Scott, Laney Engelhard with PBS faculty Holly Lindauer, Rider University alumni Jennifer Gladney ’06 and Dr. Kim Chandler Vaccaro.
Also lending their talents to the cause, and appearing courtesy of ARB, are Michele Severini, Kevin Byrne, Andrew Notarile and Pedro Gamino. Rider University alumni Melissa Kanavel ’05 will be appearing courtesy of Roxey Ballet.
Currently, there are more than 50 dance majors and minors in Rider University/Princeton Ballet School Dance Program. For more information about the performances, or Rider’s Dance Program, call 609-896-5168 or 609-896-7706.
Submitted on February 29, 2008
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