College’s dance show to feature Cirque du Soleil theme

PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College Central will present “Fantastical,” the dance department’s annual spring dance show, with a theme of “Cirque du Soleil, San Jacinto College Style.”

“Fantastical” will include two performances on Thursday, April 30, one show at 11:30 a.m., and one show at 7:30 p.m. Another performance is set for Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be staged at the College’s Slocomb Auditorium, located at 8060 Spencer Hwy., in Pasadena.

Dance styles to be featured in the show include lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater.

Notable songs to be showcased in the show will include “Halo” by Beyonce, “Just for Now” by Imogene Heap, “Ave Maria” by Celine Dion, and a hip hop mix of Universal Mind Control and Pop Champagne.

The performances will also feature a 1980s hip-hop mix of Naughty by Nature, House of Pain, Tone Loc and Kurtis Blow. Also featured will be dances to Cirque du Soleil soundtracks: Quidam, Dralion, Alegria, Kooza, Ka, and Zoomanity.

A highlight of the event will be dance sequences orchestrated by several skilled guest choreographers, including:

• • Julio Vallejo, who graduated from San Jacinto College’s dance program and has danced and choreographed for numerous shows at the College. Vallejo teaches dance professionally at several locations in the Houston area, and has danced and choreographed for the Houston Comets dance team.
• • Melanie Bohacek McDonald, who earned dance degrees from San Jacinto College and Lamar University. McDonald has danced and choreographed for shows at San Jacinto College’s South and Central campuses, and taught dance at Twin Arts Studio in Pasadena for many years. She now teaches dance at La Porte High School..
• • Chris Bravo, a former student at the College, who is also a member of local hip-hop crew called “Wyldstyl.”.
• • T’Noya Thompson, a graduate of San Jacinto College and Texas A&M-Galveston who teaches dance in Clear Lake. She is in demand by area high schools for hip-hop choreography.
San Jacinto College student choreographers who will also be involved in the show include:
• • Ashton Wilson, a Deer Park High School graduate, a class assistant at the College, and the winner of this year’s fine arts scholarship presented by the Cultural Arts Council of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. It will be the second year for her to choreograph and be a featured performer in the College’s dance show..
• • Meghan Chadwick, a graduate of Clear Creek High School, a sophomore dance major and class assistant at the College, and winner of a dance scholarship..
• • A.J. West, a North Shore High School graduate and a freshman dance major at the College. West was recently a choreographer in Stage Door’s performance of “Grease.”.
• • Ozz Diaz, a sophomore education major and cheerleader at the College who has danced and choreographed for numerous San Jacinto College shows. Diaz has coached and judged at cheerleading gyms around the area and was a dancer for the Houston Comets Team NRG for two years.

Another highlight of the Friday night “Fantastical” show will be a guest performance by “Wyldstyl,” a local hip-hop crew from Bellaire.

The Thursday, April 30 matinee show set for 11:30 a.m. will be free. General admission for both evening shows is $5 per person. Tickets will be sold at the door and reservations are not required. Proceeds from the dance show will be used for dance scholarships for San Jacinto College students.

San Jacinto College offers a wide range of dance classes and degree options at the Central and South campuses.

San Jacinto College serves more than 24,500 students in over 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu.