For the fifth time, the St. George Dance Company, a professional modern dance group, will collaborate with the Southwest Symphony in the annual “Halloween Spooktacular” Friday, Oct. 30, at the Dixie State University Cox Center for the Performing Arts. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature three pieces by the St. George Dance Company as well as music performed by the orchestra.
Choreographer Katherine Call has created a dance scene from C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The dancers—Hollie Reina, Bethany Gee, Rebekah Wainwright, Courtney Pearce, and Sherlynn Davis—will portray the magical creatures of Narnia dueling with the magic of the evil Snow Queen to the film score by Harry Gregson-Williams.
Call, Gee, and Wainwright, with choreography by Wainwright, will depict the European folk talk of Schubert’s “Erlkonig (Elf King),” an elven creature of death who lured children into the forest to their doom. The story begins with a father riding home through the woods with his son who has fallen ill. Through their journey, one can constantly hear the pulse of the horse’s gallop while the father reassures the son that he will be fine. The young boy notices the Elf King in the woods and pleads with his father to protect him, only to have his father dismiss his claims. The key changes from a gloomy minor to a fanciful major, reflecting the enticing of the Elf King.
St. George Dance Company’s artistic director, Summer Belnap Robertson, has created a dance to the main theme from “Avatar.” On the lush planet of Pandora live the Na’vi beings who appear primitive but are highly evolved. In the story, humans wish to colonize Pandora in order to mine valuable minerals, and human-Na’vi hybrids called “avatars” must be linked to a human mind to allow for free movement on the Pandora planet.
Dancers Jennie Jones and Cassidee Edmunds appear in blue Pandora costumes. Edmunds plays the role of the Na’vi, and Jones dances the part of a genetically engineered Na’vi body, with her mind remotely located in her human body. In this way, Jones’ character is able to interact with the natives of Pandora and learn the peaceful and respectful ways of the Na’vi beings.
In addition to these works, the orchestra will also perform an adaptation of the score to “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,” highlights from “Wicked” and “How to Train Your Dragon,” the theme from “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” the march from “Superman,” and selections from “Phantom of the Opera.”
Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children in costume will be admitted at no charge. Tickets are available for purchase online at dsutix.com or by calling the DSU box office at (435) 652-7800.
