el Don News[rev_slider Elevation]
Photos by Liz Monroy / el Don
Story by Jocelyne Poblador
Dancers step into a spot light, thrusting their hips and popping their butts in time with the music. Girls in sparkling mini-skirts and tops with hints of sparkling red fabric entice the audience. Seduction is the name of the game, and they’re winning.
Elevate is this spring’s student choreographed show. The 12-piece collective of dances features guest choreographer Saleemah Knight.
The show mostly consists of a variety of jazz numbers and a few modern contemporary dances. The jazz numbers range from classic to burlesque and contemporary pieces.
Each dance tells a story.
Raul Martinez’s story shows good girls going bad, eventually killing their significant others. It starts off innocently. The girls slowly spin on the toe of their black leather boots while lip-synching.
They group together and branch out again raising their arms up, pointing and accusing their partners of wronging them. The girls leisurely move around the stage popping the hips and strutting their stuff until the song ends and darkness surrounds them.
“For me this dance is movement for movements sake. I wanted to challenge myself so I did a musical theater based dance,” Martinez said.
Elevate will be performed the in the Phillips Hall Theatre May 8-9 at 7:30 pm and May 10 at 7:30 pm with a matinee at 2:30 pm. Student tickets cost $10, non-SAC students $12 and $20 for general admission.
