4 Thursday, December 1, 2016 Island Beat Hawaii Tribune-Herald Guest choreographer will be Nadia Schlosser, director and owner of the Paradise Performing Arts Center. There will be two shows at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center — a preview performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday with discounted seats ($3 per person) and the main performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. McGuire’s piece is an aerial duet with senior psychology major Ellie Benton. It is the first piece he has choreographed and performed in front of an audience. Using an aerial dance apparatus, McGuire’s piece is a “continuous flow,” he says. “It never really stops. It’s like a chase after someone where we are always trying to connect with each other but can’t. It’s controlled chaos in the few moments where we do connect. “Aerial dance was the first form of dance I learned and it’s what came most naturally to me,” he says. “But throughout my piece you’ll also see ballet, modern and jazz influences.” Three instructors put together the majority of the pieces showcased in this year’s “Great Leaps” — Annie Bunker, Kea Kapahua and the leader of the UH-Hilo dance program, Celeste Staton. This will be the 10th year HCC and UH-Hilo dance lecturer Bunker has participated in the “Great Leaps” concerts. Bunker, who operates her own performing arts company with her husband, choreographed five numbers for this fall concert. “All the works are fairly varied,” she says. “There is one called ‘Totem,’ which was originally created in 1989. Through our company OPO Dance, we commissioned a very famous Navajo flute player, R. Carlos Nakai, to compose the score. It was the first of many collaborations. The dance piece has been done many times over the years, but this will be the first time it will be performed in Hilo.” Bunker explains the dance is based on the reality of change and transition in life. “It’s about moving through life, accepting those changes and finding ourselves on the other side of the transitions,” she explains. “It’s very relevant with the times and what’s going on with the presidency and what’s going on with the Native Americans at Standing Rock. This performance is dedicated to them and what they’re fighting for.” Bunker also choreographed two aerial dances, “Roundabout” and “Sprointed” for her Aerial 1 and Aerial 2 classes. Aerial dance has, for some of her students, been a steppingstone to discovering themselves as dancers. “I have a number of students who have taken aerial dance four or five semesters,” she says. “They all have just really developed themselves as aerial dancers. These dancers have found their own ‘on the ground’ dancing through developing their aerial artistry.” She says she doesn’t teach acrobatic or circus movements but rather how to create seamless transitions and movement in the air. “It’s about how you move on different apparatuses like the steel hoops, silks, single point, low-flying trapeze,” Bunker explains. “I like to give the students a well-rounded exposure to the different apparatuses.” She says that audiences can expect a professionally assembled performance with choreography that will transport them to a different place. “That’s really what art is all about,” Bunker says. “We try to expand the students’ imaginations and we don’t necessarily give them what’s comfortable and easy for them to do. There will be challenging choreography and challenging subject matter. Art is about expanding the mind.” “This fall’s ‘Great Leaps’ dance concert promises a little something for everyone,” agrees Staton, noting that there will be everything from comedic pieces to thoughtful and uplifting works. There is no set theme, however. Staton says she noticed that this year’s pieces show “a sense of trying to bring lightness back into our lives. There’s also a bit of political commentary that sneaks into the choreography in places as well as some holiday spirit at the end so the audience leaves feeling good.” Staton says that year after year, her colleagues and the students produce original and stunning dances. “This is my 31st year of being involved with ‘Great Leaps’ as a coordinator,” Staton says. “I’m amazed every year. One of the main purposes of the concert is to give our students hands-on time on stage in front of an audience. They totally rise to the occasion; they thrive on it.” This is an open seating event. Preview tickets for Friday’s show are $3. Tickets for Saturday’s show are $7 general admission, $5 discounted and students with valid ID, as well as children 17 and under. For more information, or to order tickets, call the box office at 932-7490 or visit http://artscenter.uhh.hawaii. edu/. Email Katie Young Yamanaka at BIVHawaii@gmail.com. LEAPS From page 2 HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald There will be two shows for the fall 2016 “Great Leaps” dance concert at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center — a preview performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the main performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
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