SoMar Dance Works presents ‘Body Language’
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, SoMar Dance Works presents “Body Language,” a dance concert of premieres and favorites from the company’s repertoire.
Artistic Directors Solveig and Mark Santillano have created an exciting and entertaining mix of dance, film, and music for this special event on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at Walker Recital Hall on the campus of Mercyhurst University. Admission is free and open to the public.
The concert includes eight dances and two short films and will feature a company of 13 dancers and two guest artists.
In describing the production’s theme, Mark Santillano emphasized the significance of movement in self-expression. “There is nothing better suited for expressing the human condition than bodies in motion,” he said. “Bodies are real; bodies are visceral. Everybody has a body, so everybody can relate, and when it comes to body language, dancers are naturally fluent. Dancers speak volumes.”
Featured within the concert is the Erie premiere of “Alchemy,” a dance commissioned by the San Diego Civic Dance Company this past summer. Performed to music by Camille, “Alchemy” showcases the creative partnering work for which SoMar is known. Also on the program is the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss classic, “The Sneetches.” Although the story is from 1961, it is full of social commentary that is still relevant today. This playful piece involves the full company set to an original sound score by Mark Santillano.
Two guest artists, Angela McDonough DiFiore and Kelly Armor, will be joining SoMar for a new piece, “A World Beneath.” Created and performed along with Solveig Santillano, this dance explores the amazing world of mushrooms that lies beneath our feet. With live music and narration by Armor, the trio was inspired by this unseen network that serves as a metaphor for unheard voices that exist all around us. Joining the Santillanos are dancers Emma Berkheiser, Katie Bleu, Natalie Cecil, Ainsley Dunning, Katherine Kilbourn, Madeleine Plourde, Sophie Satoh, Mia Semieraro, Maddie Sipos, Moira Sullivan, and Nicole Walters.
For more information, contact info@somardanceworks.com.