First Annual Big Island Dance and Fringe Festival

"Dancing Into Light"

Concerts at two locations:

April 6, 6 p.m.

Kahilu Theatre, Waimea

April 12, 7 p.m.,

East Hawai`i Cultural Center

141 Kalakaua Ave., Hilo

Fringe Festival

Kalakaua Park, Hilo

April 12, 11a.m.-2 p.m.

The Big Island Dance Council (BIDC) and the East Hawai`i Cultural Center (EHCC) is proud to present the 1st Big Island Dance and Fringe Festival. The festival events are scheduled in April to celebrate National Dance Month across the U.S.

The Dance portion of the festival will feature two performances of “Dancing Into Light” at two venues—Sunday, April 6, at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea at 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 12, at East Hawai`i Cultural Center Theatre at 7 p.m. This performance brings together some of the Big Island’s most pre-eminent contemporary choreographers and several world premieres in a show that will long be remembered as a sterling dance event.

The featured five choreographers have diverse professional backgrounds, hail from different parts of the island, and represent both kamaaina and newcomer status. Veteran of the dance community, Trina Nahm-Mijo, was co-founder of Dance `O Hawai`i the first modern dance company in the state. She has won five state choreographic awards and continues to enjoy risk-taking in choreography and cultivating an experimental spirit in young artists. A critic from the Maui Scene stated: “The audience was transported to a unique blend of Asian and East Indian influences . . . The work was emotionally deep.” She will premiere a piece in collaboration with visual artist, Kaori Ukaji, called “White Hole” featuring a 60 foot paper installation piece.

Another world premiere will be presented by the newest arrival to the island, Annie Bunker formerly of Tucson, Arizona and Director of O-T-O Dance now in its 23rd season. She is one of the few accomplished teachers in the U.S. who instructs in the art of aerial dance using the single point low flying trapeze. She will debut an aerial piece for eight dancers called “Roundabout” and will also perform a stunning solo “Pele’s Breath” set to music by R. Carlos Nakai and Keola Beamer with a multimedia projection created by Chuck Koesters at the Kahilu Theatre performance only. She will debut a new modern piece called “Here Again” at the East Hawai`i Cultural Center.

Another featured choreographer will be Angel Prince, Director of PrinceDance who is a well-known and respected teacher, performer, and choreographer from Waimea. One reviewer described her work thusly: “All I can see as I watch (the choreography) is grace, strength, freedom as expressed in the body. It is jaunty, sassy, full expression of the feminine sensibility.” She will be presenting three works. Malaika Maphalala, Dance Education Coordinator for BIDC and recent director of “Aida” is a well-known dance teacher in the Puna schools. She will be performing a solo called “Up!” which tracks an inner journey back to dance to live drumming.

Not to be missed are two young and talented performers from Holualoa, Lynn Barre and Miho Morinoue—both former members of the critically acclaimed Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company in New York City. Both currently teach at West Hawai`i Dance Theatre. They will perform two duets choreographed by Lynn.

Tickets are available from EHCC, p. 961-5711 for $16/$18 in advance and $18/$20 at-the-door, and at the Waimea General Store, p. 885-4479 for $20/$22 in advance and $23/$25 at-the-door at Kahilu Theatre. For more information, call Trina at p. 974-7551.