Figures immersed in the spotlight float across the stage, depicting stories of cultures and traditions that unfold with each movement. From the blood-red seats in Phillips Hall Theatre, the audience is transported to the shrines of Japan, the fields of Scotland and the water-flooded streets of New Orleans.
At Santa Ana College’s annual Dancewatch concerts Roots/Branches … Embracing Our Past and Present, faculty choreographed five pieces that reveal how both traditional and contemporary dance utilizes movement as a form of visual storytelling.
“[Dance is] something that helps break the boundaries between artistry and day-to-day life,” Ricky Vazquez, a third-year dance major, said.
The works were inspired by each choreographer’s travels, personal experience and cultural roots.
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