For the past fifteen years, the Mendocino College Dance Department has acknowledged National Dance Week with its own celebration of dance, the Spring Dance Festival, and this year is no exception! Ballet, contemporary, jazz, Middle Eastern, hip hop, and tap dance are just a handful of dance forms that will delight those who attend this event on Friday and Saturday, April 29 & 30 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, May 1 at 2:00 PM in the Mendocino College Center Theatre in Ukiah. “This event is one of Mendocino College’s most popular yearly events. People love the diversity of dance that is presented and the $5 tickets!” says Leslie Saxon West, Director of Dance and festival director and producer. According to Saxon West, “This is an annual family event and our goal is to make it affordable and enjoyable for all!”

There is something for everyone in this year’s performance. Dance pieces have been choreographed by student choreographers as well as Mendocino College dance instructors Eryn Schon-Brunner, Christine Boyd, and Rachel Young in addition to guest performers from Mendocino Ballet and Middle Eastern dancer Julie Castillo. “I am struck by the depth and variety of dances which range from serious to silly, everything from dances about chickens and a fox and Barbie dolls to inner turmoil and lost (and found) love!”

One dance which is sure to be a crowd pleaser is Illuminate choreographed by dance student Ayla Decaire. The piece explores how energy is transferred through the body by use of light. To illustrate this, the dancer will be wearing a suit with lights that will respond to her body movements. Another dance that will delight the audience is Pecking Order II: The Fox and the Chickens, by student Tara Ford, which is a sequel to a hilarious dance that was performed last year. The question this year will be, who will win, the fox or the chickens? And speaking of animals, student Amelia Taylor explores life from a different perspective… that of a dog in her dance Experiment in Existence.

On a more serious note, dance student Oscar Montelongo Medina has choreographed a dance called Sporadic Existentialist. According to Oscar, “The dance is about realizing that there is darkness in all of us and no matter how much we avoid it, it will still be waiting to be confronted. In order for us to win, we sometimes need to lose.”

Student choreographer and dancer Will Schlosser offers to the mix, Reach, which represents how humans need some form of support from time to time; being supported and giving support. He says, “Reach for the things that make you happy. Reach out for the things that matter to you in life. Lastly, reach out to the people who will always love and care for you.”

Guest performers in this year’s event include members of the Mendocino Ballet, under the direction of Trudy McCreanor, who will be performing a lyrical ballet entitled Waterfall. Former Mendocino College dance student and tap dance instructor at Mendocino Ballet, Sandi Lang, has also choreographed a playful tap dance called Dancing With Myself. Additionally, long time dancer at Mendocino College, Ivory Reid along with Ryan Johnson, will be performing Gone But Never Forgotten, a tribute to Rich Rodriguez, who danced at Mendocino College for many years and recently passed away.

Tickets, which are $5 for everyone, can be purchased in advance at the Mendocino Book Company on School St. in Ukiah, the Mendocino College Bookstore, or by calling 707.468.3079. Tickets may also be purchased at the door if available.  For more information please visit www.mendocino.edu/the-arts/dance.