As part of the 11th Annual Dance under the Stars Choreography Festival, the McCallum Theatre Institute will partner for a second year with Toro Canyon Middle and Desert Mirage High Schools in Thermal on the East Valley Dance Project.
Jennifer Backhaus, artistic director of the critically acclaimed contemporary dance company Backhausdance will be joined by choreographer William Lu to facilitate a dance workshop for students that will conclude with the students traveling to the theatre to perform their original choreography on the McCallum stage as part of the Festival's Opening Reception for choreographers and sponsors on Friday, November 14 and Division II performance on Sunday, November 16, 2008. East Valley Dance Project dancers are also invited as guests to attend the Division I performance on Saturday, November 15.
Approximately 30 students will be selected based on their participation in the initial fun-filled educational workshop held at Desert Mirage High School on Tuesday, October 28 from 3:45-6:00 p.m. The workshop is open to all students - those who have danced all their lives and those who never have set foot on a dance floor. Selected students will participate in a week long residency from Thursday, November 6 - Thursday, November 13. Last year 63 students attended the audition workshop and 24 completed the project and danced on stage at the McCallum Theatre.
The highly acclaimed festival, presented by the McCallum Theatre Institute, in association with the city of Palm Desert and the College of the Desert, celebrates dance with competitions for choreographers working with professional and pre-professional dancers, as well as educational workshops open to the public. Since its inception, the competition has grown exponentially as well as internationally with finalists traveling from as far away as Germany and France.
Tickets for the competition performances are on sale now. Tickets for the Division I performance Saturday, November 15, 7:00 p.m. are $30/25/20/15. Tickets for the Division II performance Sunday, November 16, 4:00 p.m. are $25/20/15/10. -- www.mccallumtheatre.com
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