Pierce College presented the 2024 Spring Dance Concert “In Motion,” featuring performances by Pierce dance students and guest performers of CHAMPS High School of the Arts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Performing Arts Mainstage.
“In Motion’s” artistic director was Denise Gibson, and the dances were choreographed by faculty choreographers Denise Gibson and Brian Moe, as well as alum Melaney J. Garcia.
“In Motion” featured a variety of dancing styles, including interpretive, salsa and burlesque.
Dancers performed to music from the 1980s to present day, from Rick James to Kendrick Lamar.
CHAMPS Charter High School dancer Cari Mayfield danced in many of the group numbers along with her peers, and said she thought the performance was good.
Mayfield also choreographed one of the pieces, called “Celebrity,” accompanied by music titled “Ain’t No Celebrity” by Jungle.
“I’m really happy because I choreographed a piece,” Mayfield said.
She explained why the process of choreographing was difficult.
“I have a certain movement that a lot of my peers can’t really move the same way as me,” Mayfield said. “It was difficult, but it came together.”
The CHAMPS Charter dancers brought youthful, hip-hop energy and contemporary style to “In Motion.”
Moe was in attendance, and he choreographed “My Last 3 Brain Cells” featuring “The Sound of Japanese Drumming” by Pulse Percussion Ensemble and three interpretive dancers.
“I’m very proud of the work that both the faculty and the students have done, as well as CHAMPS,” Moe said.
Since it was Gibson’s turn to direct, she was more hands-on with the show and the student choreographers.
“For me, the surprise in the spring is that I don’t know what’s going to be on the stage until I get to see it,” Moe said. “It’s always a wonderful surprise to see it work because a lot of them have really grown as choreographers.”
After the show, Nattaly Leon, mother of dancer Alejandra Leon, said the show was nice. She has been attending the dance recitals for a few years to see her daughter dance.
“She loves it, and she enjoys dancing so much,” said Leon, as she held a flower bouquet.
Alejandra Leon danced to the 80s aerobic opening number “Kitty Purr” choreographed by Garcia and to the burlesque “Dollipops” choreographed by Gibson.
Auditions for the Fall 2023 Dance Concert will be on Saturday, Sept. 7 at noon in the North Gym 5601 Dance Studio.
