Birds of a Feather

April 18, 2024
7 PM
Justice Auditorium
Northwestern High School
7000 Adelphi Rd.
Hyattsville, MD 20782

Bayardo Martinez, Dance Department Director

Program I

Birds Of A Feather

- Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
- Performers: Dance Majors Levels I, II, III & IV
- Class: All VPA Dance Majors
- Music by: Carlinhos Brown, Sergio Mendes, Mikael Mutti, John Powell
- Choreographer's Notes: The celebration of culture, diversity, and unity through music and dance; like carnival.

FLOCK!

- Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
- Performers: Dance Majors Level III
- Class: VPA Modern 3
- Music by: Dead Can Dance
- Choreographer's Notes: Dancers translate the choreographic devices of accumulation and flocking as forms to embody birds through movement.

Stimela

- Student Choreographer: Kai Colquitt ('24)
- Performers: Comprehensive Dance 1
- Class: Comprehensive Dance 1 - 4A
- Music by: Ubukho Bethu
- Choreographer's Notes: This dance is about the journey of having your highs and lows. The idea that I want the audience to take away is that it is normal for people to go through their emotions.

Valse Des Heures (an excerpt from Coppélia)

- Choreographer: Jenna Nelson
- Performers: Dance Majors Level I
- Class: VPA Ballet 1
- Music by: Léo Delibes
- Choreographer's Notes: This piece is based on an excerpt from the ballet, Coppélia.

Los Pájaros Coloridos

- Choreographers: Julia Smith and Dancers
- Performers: Comprehensive Dance 2
- Class: Comprehensive Dance 2
- Music by: Nathan Lanier
- Choreographer's Notes: The Dance 2 students choreographed their own individual phrase work, which we as a class crafted into what you see on stage. The students chose the music AND their original movement phrases that shaped the piece.

Her Control

- Choreographer: Kevin Goodwine
- Performers: Luisen Asanji, Brianna Brewley, Christian Caldwell, Lidia da Cruz, Sharae Freeman, Kimora Goodwine, Keala Jacobs, Niyell Jones, Hellen Paredes-Jeronimo, Jeanna Parrish, Brooklyn Ramsay, Makyra Turner
- Class: Selective Dancers
- Music by: Janet Jackson
- Choreographer's Notes: This dance represents a young woman's decision to take control of her life choices into adulthood.

Nomad

- Choreographer: Kevin Goodwine
- Performers: Dance Majors Level IV
- Class: VPA Modern 4
- Music by: Trucell Idiom
- Choreographer's Notes: This piece demonstrates the persistence of continuation through life struggles; good, bad, or indifferent.

Lullaby A Birdland

- Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
- Performers: Dance Majors Level I
- Class: VPA Jazz 1
- Music by: Ella Fitzgerald
- Choreographer's Notes: Dancers are taken back to the 1950's to fuse style, technique and love.

Just Turn Around

- Choreographer: Jenna Nelson
- Performers: Jodiann Adams, Angela Amaya, Luisen Asanji, Ariana Champion, Sharae Freeman, Roberta Hottab, Louisetta Koh, Dana Moore, Hellen Paredes-Jeronimo, Jeanna Parrish, Jessika Turcios
- Class: Royale Dance Company - National Honors Society in Dance Arts
- Music by: Steve Reich, Divan Gattamorta
- Choreographer's Notes: How would you feel if the dancers on stage just never turned around? Let's find out.

Intermission
Please visit our $1 Concession Table in the lobby.

Program II

Civil Society: a modern dance suite
- - Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
  - Performers: Dance Majors Levels I & II
  - Class: VPA Modern 2 & 3
  - Music by: Lebo M, Sona Saya, Hans Zimmer
  - Choreographer's Notes: The modern realm of bound individuals forming a non-governmental diverse community focusing on movements in four general elements:

I: Sovereignty (Dance Majors Levels I & II)

II: Justice (Dance Major Soloist; Brooklyn Ramsay)

III: Commonwealth (Dance Majors Level II)

IV: Equity (Dance Majors Level I)

Life Cycles
- - Student Choreographers: Kai Colquitt, Melissa Morales-Escalante, Maya Turner
  - Performers: Kai Colquitt, Melissa Morales-Escalante, Maya Turner
  - Class: Comprehensive Dance 3 & 4
  - Music by: Joy Crookes, Jungle, Frank Ocean

Choreographer's Notes: This piece represents the journey of three individual souls and their ability to come together as one in the end.

Maithreem Bajhata
- Artist-in-Residence & Choreographer: Deepti Mukund Navile
- Performers: Dance Majors Level III
- Class: VPA World Dance
- Music Edited by: Deepti Mukund Navile
- Choreographer's Notes: The dancers had the privilege of working with classical Indian master teacher, Deepti Mukund Navile, who expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jainism. Bharatanatyam is originally known as a temple dance for women to express Hindu religious stories and devotions. This dance style became a form of concert dance in the 20th century. The dance movements consist of bent legs, hand gestures, and rhythmic patterns to tell a story.
Once Upon A Dream
- Choreographers: Julia Smith and Dancers
- Performers: Dance Majors Level II
- Class: VPA Ballet 2
- Music Edited by: Lana Del Rey
- Choreographer's Notes: The dancers chose the music and developed their own phrase work based on ballet technique and vocabulary they have been learning all year. The song comes from the Disney movie, Maleficent.
Simply Jazz
- Choreographer: Jenna Nelson
- Performers: Comprehensive Dance 1
- Class: Comprehensive Dance 1 - 4B
- Music Edited by: Ariana Grande
- Choreographer's Notes: This Jazz piece is inspired by Ariana Grande's music video for "Yes, and?", choreographed by Will Loftis and Chelsea Thedinga.
Distress
- Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
- Performers: Luisen Asanji, Jazmyne Cesar, Brianna Moscoso, Jeanna Parrish
- Class: Royale Dance Company - National Honors Society in Dance Arts
- Music Edited by: Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Choreographer's Notes: Phobias such as creatures, heights, and the outside world, the dancers find a coping mechanism to overcome their fears-- unification.
Who Did It?
- Choreographer: Jenna Nelson
- Performers: Dance Majors Level II
- Class: VPA Jazz 2
- Music Edited by: Henry Mancini
- Choreographer's Notes: A fun jazzy take on the Pink Panther theme song.
Hip-Hop Medley
- Choreographer: Andrea Benavides-Campos, Kimora Goodwine, Louisetta Koh
- Performers: Comprehensive Dance 1
- Class: Comprehensive Dance 1 - 2B
- Music Edited by: Joe Budden; F.L.Y; Trill Family, Boosie Badazz & Webbie
- Choreographer's Notes: Dancer's explore a hip-hop medley different than today's hip-hop culture.
The Last Bird
- Choreographer: Kevin Goodwine and Julia Smith
- Performers: Dance Majors Level III & IV
- Class: VPA Ballet 3 & 4
- Music Edited by: Zoë Keating
- Choreographer's Notes: A contemporary ballet piece inspired by migratory birds.

Acknowledgments

Sandra Atkinson; Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator

Bayardo Martinez; Dance Department Chairperson

Julia Smith; Dance Faculty

Jenna Nelson; Dance Faculty

Kevin Goodwine; Dance Adjunct Faculty

Temisha Richardson; PGCPS Dance Supervisor

Jaclyn Martin; PGCPS Dance Resource Teacher

Malik Savage; Auditorium Tech

Sandra Atkinson; Lighting

Shaquib Hassan; Sound

Martin Hillman; Student Volunteer

Ike Ogbajie; Student Volunteer

NKenge Barker; Principal

Donalyn Bass; Asst. Principal

Patricia Cox; Asst. Principal

Casey Hammond; Asst. Principal

Cordelia Polley; Asst. Principal

Dr. Darwin Mendevil; Asst. Principal

Secoya Muschett; Asst. Principal

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