University News
Latin-American Dance Workshops and Residency February 10-15
February 6, 2003
MACOMB, IL – Mexico’s National School of Contemporary Dance Director Orlando Scheker will spend a week in residence Monday, Feb. 10 through Saturday, Feb. 15 at Western Illinois University, conducting workshops and master classes.
Scheker will work throughout the week choreographing a piece with WesternÂ’s Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe, the University Dance Theatre (UDT) and the Gwendolyn Brooks Dance Troupe, which will performed at Western's International Bazaar March 21-22 and at the final performance (April 26) of UDTÂ’s Spring Dance Concert, which is scheduled at 8 p.m. April 24-26 in the Brophy Studio Theatre.
He also will teach three contemporary and Latin-American dance master classes in the Brophy Studio Theatre during the weeklong residency and instruct traditional Hispanic dance during the Feb. 12 Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe retreat at Western's Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.
Born in the Dominican Republic in 1951, Scheker moved to Mexico City to study architecture in 1974. He joined the National Ballet of Contemporary Dance of Mexico, and became a soloist under the direction of Guillermina Bravo. He also student at the Martha Graham Dance Company. Scheker has taught at the National School of Contemporary Dance in Mexico since 1983, and has worked as a choreographer and director since 1990. He also serves as academic adviser of the Superior School of Music and Dance in Monterrey.
On Friday, Feb. 14, Scheker will present a video and discussion about the “History of Dance in Mexico. The 3-4 p.m. presentation, open free to the public, will be held in Stipes Hall 121.
Individuals on campus and in the Macomb community interested in learning Latin-American dances are invited to sign up for SchekerÂ’s Saturday, Feb. 15 dance workshop. He will offer three sessions in the Brophy Studio.
From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. will be a contemporary/modern dance class (Graham technique) for beginners and intermediate dancers.
From 1-3 p.m. Scheker will instruct a Hispanic dance class, including the true Latin-American Merengue style of dance, for all levels of dancers.
All levels of dancers are also invited to the 3:30-5:30 p.m. traditional Hispanic dance class, which will include Huapango rhythms of Central Mexico.
Costs for SaturdayÂ’s classes are $6 for a single session, $11 for two sessions and $15 for all three sessions. WIU students will be admitted for one-half price with a valid student ID.
Scheker's visit is sponsored by Western's Casa Latina Cultural Center, Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe, the College of Education and Human Services, physical education department and University Dance Theatre.
For more information about SchekerÂ’s residency and workshops, contact Alda Godines, Casa Latina, 309-298-3379; or Candace Winters-March, University Dance Theatre co-director, 309-298-2116.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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