Dances from the Heart
Pacific Dance Ensemble presents its 38th annual free show, “Dances from the Heart: a dancer’s life” at the Newport Performing Arts Center this Friday, May 30.
Directed by Nancy Mittleman, the program will showcase original choreography and dancers from the Pacific Dance Ensemble and the Newport School of Artistic Movement.
Pieces include choreography reflecting the dancers’ thoughts originating from various points of inspiration, including student poetry, haiku, a memorial piece honoring a dearly loved friend and pieces exploring the dancers’ pure love of movement. The program includes diverse styles of dance ranging from classical ballet to modern dance to spontaneous improvisations and dancing with props.
As the famous choreographer/dancer, Martha Graham said, “Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.”
Watch as the performers share secrets of how we explore and shape movements to speak through dance and see the process unfold as the dancers grow through the years to become performers and choreographers.
In addition to her own performing experience on both east and west coasts, Mittleman has more than 50 years of expertise, directing and training dancers from preschool to professional.
Members of Pacific Dance Ensemble and students of Newport School of Artistic Movement have gone on to study and perform all over the world, including such prestigious places as the Martha Graham Studio, American Ballet Theatre and Juilliard in New York, the Laban School in London and the San Francisco, Eugene and Pacific Northwest ballets.
Pacific Dance Ensemble is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide young dancers interested in dance as a career, the opportunity to work and perform with professional artists, produce original works and showcase their talents. The ensemble has worked to increase awareness of the arts to the community at-large since its inception in 1986.
“Dances from the Heart” begins at 7 pm this Friday, May 30, at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.