The always cutting edge, entertaining, and titillating Columbia City Jazz Dance Company has a very special performance for its captive audience. For three nights, the company will be performing “Moving Spaces” at the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College.
The show, an electrifying revue of traditional and modern jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and ballet, has an even further treat for audience members: a special guest appearance by Jeremy Strong from ‘America’s Best Dance Crew.’ “We’re [hoping] to attract audiences that traditionally go to the ballet and also new young audiences that are used to watching shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘ABDC,’ Les Mizzell, husband to CCJDC Dale Lam, said.
The show, as Mizzell puts it, is all about introspection and the evolution of us as human beings. He hopes to personify these elements of life on the stage through movement. “‘Moving Spaces’ is about one’s journey of self-discovery while moving through life’s experiences,” he said. The spaces are in fact the stages of life, and what the company is hoping to capture is the emotional roller coaster that everyone goes through.
This particular production has been grueling and time-consuming since its inception. The countless hours of dance rehearsals, theme imaging, and technicalities have strung out to almost a year. “We started in August. Probably the toughest part this year was timing. We just had out Summer Intensive a week ago. The planning and work that went into that backed right up into the rehearsal for this performance. Our senior dances were even learning choreography at the studio during the intensive, so they were there over 12 hours straight a day…or three!”
But all of the hard work has paid off. The show is this coming weekend and Mizzell and is excited to see how the audience interprets the performance. “We just hope to have a great turnout and everybody has a fantastic time,” Mizzell said.
The performances will be on June 29th at 7 p.m. and June 30th at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is $10.
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