Dance, Dance Downtown By Sarah Duis // Photography Katie Carrico, Dave Dufour, and Ryan Stutzman 8
Downtown <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> hosts community events on the first Friday evening of every month. In March 2012, it was all about the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts. The theme was “Dance, Dance Downtown!,” and the city pulsated with the sights, sounds, and movements of IU <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong>’s finest student musicians, singers, and dancers. At the elegant Woodward Banquet Hall, Assistant Professor of Dance Carolynn Hine-Johnson led the IU with Vladimir Sorokin, and Latin dance with David Seymour. Each demonstration featured IU <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> dance students followed by audience lessons, and many spectators were eager to join the students on the dance floor to learn some new moves. Around the corner at Trio’s Restaurant and Jazz Club, Director Darrel Tidaback led the energetic members of the IUSB Jazz Ensemble as they sizzled and smoldered onstage with sounds from the Big Band Era. of Music Ken Douglas’ IU <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> Woodwind Quintet, featuring flute, bassoon, French horn, clarinet, and oboe. At the historic Tippecanoe Place, student vocalists Tamra Garrett and Lawrence Matthews joined keyboardist Jua Coates. While each location featured a unique setting and performance from the Raclin School of the Arts, they all had one thing in common — an eclectic and enthusiastic audience. <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> Dance Company in its debut performance featuring men’s contemporary Native American dance, hip-hop infused ballet, and an interactive hip-hop tutorial. “I love this event, I think it’s fabulous,” said Leeah Oxley, a dance company member and dance minor, after performing in the hip-hop ballet routine. “I think it’s great exposure for IUSB and a great way to promote health and wellness.” Following the dance company were performances of Middle Eastern dance with Ruby Jazayre, flamenco Down the street at the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> Chocolate Café, Dance Instructor Karen Pajor taught an enthusiastic children’s jazz dance class, much to the delight of the crowded roomful of laughing tots and their parents. Local mom Amy Scott recognized the benefit of community events for her family. “There are not many things to do in the winter, so it’s been great. We’ve been coming to the past couple of First Fridays and we’ve had a blast.” Patrons of the upscale Café Navarre Bar and Restaurant wined and dined to the live classical music of Assistant Professor “It was a very big night for us,” said Dean Marvin Curtis, who visited each venue. “People got to see what we do. I think that’s very important for us.” Downtown <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong> approached the Raclin School of the Arts about sponsoring the evening after positive experiences and community feedback from the school’s participation in the summer 2011 Fridays by the Fountain series, another downtown event that showcased IU <strong>South</strong> <strong>Bend</strong>’s best in music, dance, and drama.