Dancers to present end-of-year recital

Published 8:52 am Thursday, May 14, 2009

Travel back in time and explore the music of four time periods in U.S. history with the Joyce Matthies Dancers at the end-of-the-year recital Saturday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. All seats are reserved. Tickets maybe purchased at the box office Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and 30 minutes before each performance.

The music used in the recital is authentic music from each of the time periods. The 1700s open the program. Music from this time period includes “Lady Hope’s Reel,” “Lovely Nancy,” “Boston March,” “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and an exciting tap number with over 25 dancers to Hornpipe.

The 1800s are next. Flowing, graceful ballet dances to “When Johnny Come Marching Home,” “Kingdom Come” and Stephen Foster’s “The Soiree Polka” are seen in this section. Also, senior Allyssa Sorenson will perform to a song about a river in Europe.

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After intermission, the early 1900s are portrayed. Now the audience will not only hear some Irving Berlin music like “Mandy” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” but also a Chopin etude.

The last section is the mid-1900s. The fun of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “G.I. Jive,” the sophistication of “A Foggy Day” and “Dearly Beloved” (both first introduced by Fred Astaire) are seen here. The program closes with 15 tap dancers performing “Hot Lunch Jam” which won a gold and a first at dance competitions this spring.

Seniors Allyssa Sorenson and Anna Enstad perform throughout the show. Joyce Matthies choreographed the show. Lighting is by Charles Boentgen and sound by Nick Gosen.