Saturday, May 23, 2009

Islands, Spain, and Debuts


Al Andalus photos by Dan Mohr
Richard Hubscher and Sterling Ramsey in the Al Andalus men's duet

This blog is supposed to be mainly about the Al Andalus Project, but as a bonus, this update includes several other topics that are connected to it.

First, the next performance in our ongoing Al Andalus Project is in the Dance Gathering, an annual event of Big Range Dance Festival at Barnevelder. Richard Hubscher, in the role of Hasdai Ibn Shaprut, and Sterling Ramsey, as Nicholas the Greek Christian Monk, perform the exhuberant, whimsical men's duet from Act I of Al Andalus! The Legend. The Dance Gathering is this Sunday, May 31 at 7:00pm. You can get tickets at the Barnevelder website.


Hubscher and Ramsey in the men's duet

Second, the next big Al Andalus presentation is called Scenes from Al Andalus. It will be a highlight of our June 20th debut in Zilkha Hall of the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in our repertory concert, Memories of Spain.


Lydia Hance as Fatima of Cordoba; Hubscher


Scenes from Al Andalus is a suite of solo and duet dances from our Al Andalus Project. It will showcase two of the passionate love duets between the Jewish Hasdai Ibn Shaprut and the Muslim Fatima of Cordoba; the whimsical Act I men’s duet with Shaprut and Nicholas the Greek Christian Monk; the elegant solo of Eleanor of Aquitaine; exotic solos of the Berber Princess, and the fiery Gypsy Matron solo.

Arabic, Sephardic, pre-flamenco, and medieval Spanish Christian music are all represented in Scenes from Al Andalus, as well as modern dance influenced by authentic dance styles. A special treat will be the live music played for one of the love duets by members of our Al Andalus Orchestra, with mezzo-soprano Isabelle Ganz singing a soulful Sephardic song that has been recorded by her ensemble, Alhambra.


Joani Trevino as Eleanor of Aquitaine

In addition to our Dancepatheatre dancers Lydia Hance, Richard Hubscher, Sterling Ramsey, and Joani Trevino, will be guest choreographer/dancers Kristina Koutsoudas and Lucia Rodriguez Sanchez.


Singer Shannon Langman with Hance and Trevino
in the premiere, Tonadillas with Elementals

The Memories of Spain concert will also feature a premiere including mezzo-soprano Shannon Langman and pianist Timothy Hester with the dancers; two of Dancepatheatre’s more seasoned dances; and flamenco guitar solos by Valdemar Phoenix with dance by Ana de la Peza. The evening will be filled with images of various eras and styles of Spain.


Meghan Tarkington, Eugene Joubert, and Lyndsey Johnson at Island Arias

To assist in defraying costs for our Hobby Center debut, we held a delightful fundraising event on May 3rd. Island Arias was co-sponsored by Songbird Sancturary, and a great time was had by all.

Singers Lyndsey Johnson and Meghan Tarkington wowed the audience with their beautiful voices, their classical and musical theater selections, and their wonderful performance skills. Multi-talented Eugene Joubert not only accompanied the singers beautifully on the piano, but as an aspiring chef, he also provided incredible pastries for the guests…which also drew applause. It was a wonderful occasion and successful all around.

right: Lyndsey Johnson performing at Island Arias.

below: Meghan Tarkington performing at Island Arias.



About thirty-five happy guests were donned with leis upon arrival at Island Arias in the Songbird Sanctuary, and then enjoyed strolling the native-plant gardens, napping in the hammock, swinging on the porch swing, savoring wine and delicious tropical delights, shopping at the Authentic Hawaiian Shirt Market, and of course, enjoying a stellar classical voice concert.

We are still gratefully accepting contributions to help defray costs for our Hobby Center debut at the Dancepatheatre website, and additionally, tickets to the June 20th Memories of Spain are on sale now at The Hobby Center. You might consider the VIP tickets which include premiere seating plus an invitation to our private cast party. However, General Admission and Student/Senior tickets are available, so find the ticket that is right for you and please bring ten of your closest friends! I hope to see you there!

Me (Sara Draper, center) with Meghan Tarkington and Eugene Joubert at Island Arias