Local dancers ready to showcase skills

Kitsap News Sources

Peninsula Dance Theatre will showcase new works created just for the local company in its annual “Choreography Showcase” Feb. 23 and 24 in Bremerton. The several short pieces represent a range of dance styles and musical genres, modern and classical moods, and creative choreography meant to challenge the dancers and surprise the audience.

Featured guest choreographer this year is Kiyon Gaines, a dancer with Seattle’s Pacific Northwest ballet with many leading roles and choreography credits to his name. He spent an intensive week at PDT’s home school, Bremerton Dance Center, creating the new piece. Called “Klavis,” it is set to music by Chopin, Goyescas and Bach.

Nicole and Jason Cisler, who came to Bremerton with experience in several ballet companies between them, now teach at BDC and have created a piece called “Complementing Affects.” Lara Littlefield, a homegrown Bremerton talent who lives and works in Seattle but often choreographs for PDT, has set a modern piece, “Ethel’s Hardwood March,” for the company. Betsy Conger, who trained in Seattle and has taught Bremerton dancers for years, has given the PDT Junior Company “Sweet Felicity Suite.”

Two of the company’s own young dancers have created pieces. For Samantha Garvin, 18, it’s her third choreography, and for Michael Johnson, 19, it’s his first. Garvin will graduate this year from Central Kitsap High School, and Johnson will graduate from both CKHS and Olympic College this spring.

PDT Director Lawan Morrison will reprise a longtime favorite, “Graduation Ball,” set to music by Johann Strauss.

Tacoma City Ballet is this year’s guest company, bringing its own dancers to perform “Ghost,” choreographed by TCB artistic director Erin M. Ceragioli.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors and $10 for children. They are on sale at Bremerton Dance Center, 515 Chester Ave.; Kitsap Mall, Bremerton Chamber of Commerce and Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce. They will also be sold at the door. For information call (360) 377-2027.

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