Repertory Dancers Perform at Hollywood Elementary

Every year RB's Repertory Dance Ensemble performs an educational art outreach performance for a local elementary school or organization.  This year RBHS Repertory Dance Ensemble performed for the Hollywood Elementary School on Thursday, February 16, 2012.  The dancers performed six dances and answered questions about dance, performing and choreography.  Once the dancers were finished performing the fourth grade students broke into small groups and together they created a dance inspired by the Edgar Degas painting, Fin'd Arabesque; which both groups had been studying in class.

To see more photos visit http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/photo_galleries/x1134098350/RB-dancers-visit-Hollywood

Professional Choreographer teaches Repertory Dance Ensemble

Donnette Cannonie, a nationally and internationally known choreographer, choreographs a dance that will be performed at RB's Winter Dance Concert on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. The dance was inspired by student's ideas and the struggles of making a life decision. Donnette worked with the dancers during 4th period for six days. In the picture above Donnette Cannonie (center) talks to Alaina Sliz, about her transition from the stack of suitcases. To see more photos check out snapshots.mysuburbanlife.com/1332241

An Environmental Dance Happening

Inspired by the post-modern era of modern dance, Repertory Dance Ensemble choreographs an envrionmental piece on the front steps of the school. Please join us on Thursday, May 26th at 3:30 to witness RB's very own Dance Happening! The raindate is Friday, May 27th at 3:30.

Dancing in Grant Park

After attending the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance twenty-two dancers headed over to Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain to play improvisation games and restage choreography inspired by the Alvin Ailey performance. To see more photos visit the Fine Arts Department shutterfly account.

Dancers perform in Riverside and Brookfield for the Holidays

RB's Repertory Dance Ensemble performed a holiday concert at the Riverside townhall on Friday, December 3rd and the Brookfield Village hall on Saturday, December 4th. The dancers enjoyed performing to music of the holiday season and inviting members of the community to dance with them on stage. A special thank you to Arlene Rovner of Brookfield and Brian Brennen of Riverside for inviting the dancers to perform at the annual holiday celebrations.

Repertory Dancers Perform at University of Chicago

On Friday, October 22nd RB's Repertory Dance Ensemble participated in Chicago's Dance Slam . "Chase," choreographed by Girodano dancer Robert McKee was performed by nine dancers. Dancers performed on the campus of the University of Chicago at the historic Mandall Hall Theatre. The dancers enjoyed performing for a sold out audience and sharing the stage with other local dancers. The dancers ended their evening by walking around campus and taking in the sights of beautiful buildings and pedestrian walkways. It was a memorable evening enjoyed by all. Congratulations to our dancers on another stellar performance.

Twenty-Nine Dancers go to the Joffrey Ballet

On Thursday, October 21st twenty-nine dance students attended the Joffrey Ballet performace of "All Stars." "All Stars" was performed at the Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. The evening consisted of four different ballets featuring choreography by Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine and Christopher Weldon. The next day in class dancers discussed the athleticism and beauty of the Joffrey dancers and choreographed a movement phrase inspired by the evening's performance. Many of the dancers are looking forward to returning to see the Joffrey Ballet perform America's #1 ballet, The Nutcracker.

Repertory Dance Performs at Dance Slam

On Friday, October 22nd the RB's Repertory Dance Ensemble will perform Chase, choreographed by guest choreographer Robert McKee at the historic Mandall Hall Theatre in Chicago. Go to http://www.dancechicago.com/for tickets. Be sure to use code DC2010 for a 5.00 discount. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance.

It's Dance Chicago's award-winning interactive dance competition with a non-stop beat! Each work is five minutes or less and the audience votes for the winners! Famous Chicago and National choreographers and dancers got their start here. Who is providing the next generation of star power? - Come and decide for yourself. This is the biggest Chicago dance competition of the season - from breaking to ballet! FAST AND FURIOUS.

Guest Dance Teacher -Margi Cole

4th Hour Repertory Dance Ensemble students welcomed Margi Cole, Artistic Director and founder of the Dance COLEctive, to class on Thursday, March 4th. Margi taught an across the floor combination focusing on the use of ones body to lift and partner another person. The dancers are anxious to get started on their partnering composition.

Guest Hip Hop Teacher

After returning from a dance engagement in Switzerland, professional dancer and choreographer, Donnette Cannonie taught a hip-hop dance class to RB's Dance Technique I students. The students adored Ms. Cannonie's dance class so much that they are still "poppin' and lockin'" to Ms. Cannonie's choreography .

RB's DANCE CONCERT is TONIGHT

RB's 4th hour Repertory Dance Ensemble class will be performing their first ever winter dance concert tonight, Friday, January 15, 2010, at 4:00 and 7:00 in the little theatre! Please join us for a wonderful evening of DANCE.

Dancers will be performing choreography by guest choreographers Jon Lehrer and Donnette Cannonie. Student choreographers include: Lauren DeRosier, Natalie Godlewski, Danielle Kovack, Melissa Pruitt, and Tiffany Guel-Blanco.

Dancers Perform at Riverside and Brookfield Holiday Festivals

Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th members of the RB Repertory Dance Ensemble performed a holiday dance concert for community members of Riverside and Brookfield. Dancers performed to The Nutcracker Suite, Mommy Kissing Santa Clause, A Rockette Kickline and a storybook ballet to The Night Before Christmas narrated by seniors Natalie Godlewski and Tiffany Guel-Blanco. Another highlight from the performance was inviting members from the community to join the dancers on stage to perform. Great job, dancers!

Be sure to join us for our next concert on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 4:00 and 7:00 in RB's Little Theatre.

Suburban Life article on RB Dance

Riverside Brookfield High School's Melissa Pruitt is one of the dance students working with guest choreographer Jon Lehrer on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, as they practice for a January modern dance performance of his work titled, Fused. Photo taken by Bill Ackerman

Dancers Perform at Veteran's Day Assembly

4th Hour Repertory Dance Ensemble students performed, "Our Favorite Son" to 90+ Veterans at the school wide assembly that took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

The dancers commented on how nice it was to watch the faces of the Veterans as they performed. "This one guy was smiling the entire time," said Natasha Alvarez. "Did you see the one guy bobbing his head to the music...he was so cute," said Vilija Aleksa.

NY Choreographer teaches at RB

Jon Lehrer from Buffalo, NY visited RB the week of November 16, 2009. Mr. Lehrer is the founder and artistic director of the LehrerDance Company in Buffalo, NY. The Repertory Dance Ensemble dancers had an exciting week as they learned about momentum, the physics of movement and the benefits of moving in a circuclar manner vs linear. Mr. Lehrer choreographed a dance on the dancers which will be performed at the Home Dance Concert on January 15, 2010; in the little theatre. The dancers are looking forward to performing Mr. Lehrer's VERY athletic dance, titled FUSED, which fuses modern, ballet and hip hop dancing into one dance.

Fine Arts Survey Student Dance in Class

Fine Arts Survey students dance in class while learning about spatial awareness, spatial design and positive/negative space.

Guest Dance Teacher from University of Indiana Teaches at RB

Justin Zuschlag from the University of Indiana taught an intermediate/advanced level modern dance class on Friday, November 6, 2009. Dancers enjoyed taking class from a guest teacher and watching a promotional dvd on the contemporary dance program at the university. Justin answered questions and invited the students to attend the university's annual fall dance audition and Dance Gala. A special thank you to Justin for sharing his passion for dance with us here at RB. The dancers are anxious to work with Justin again.

Repertory Dance Ensemble Performs at Dance Slam

On Friday, October 30, 2009 the RB Repertory Dance Ensemble performed at the North Shore Performing Arts Center in Skokie, Illinois. The dancers were selected to perform two dances as part of the Chicago Dance Festival's Dance Slam series. Our Favorite Son and C'mon were well received by a sold out audience. John Schmitz, artistic director of the festival, said, "Our Favorite Son was one of my favorites and Jon Lehrer was really happy to hear is work (C'mon) was being performed by RBHS." RDE looks forward to performing Our Favorite Son for the Veteran's Day Assembly on Wednesday, November 11th's at 9:15am.

New Dance Studio- Grand Opening

The Honors Repertory Dance Ensemble class celebrated the arrival of their new dance studio. Dancers celebrated with an impromptu dance party and taking pictures. By the suggestion of the students, Ms. Hart-Haines cut the ribbon before entering the studio. The dancers cheered as they were eager to get inside to see their new rehearsal space. A special thank you to Mr. Tim Scanlon and the Riverside Brookfield communities for making this happen. We are so appreciative and thankful for our new dance studio.

Honors Repertory Dance Ensemble is a new class offered in the Fine Arts Department. The energy and excitement of the dancers and Ms. Hart-Haines is high! The dancers are working hard preparing for upcoming performances as well as discovering the duties of managing a performance group. Keep your eyes open for this year's new dance company t-shirt designed by the dancers themselves.