DAY 5: GRATEFUL FOR OUR NEW GRANT PROVIDER – CITY OF NEWPORT
Backhausdance is excited to extend its gratitude to the City of Newport and welcomes the Newport Beach City Arts Commission to our circle of grant providers.
Backhausdance is excited to extend its gratitude to the City of Newport and welcomes the Newport Beach City Arts Commission to our circle of grant providers. The company submitted a grant proposal and was the only contemporary dance company to be award a grant to present a performance and outreach events for all ages and abilities. We feel fortunate to foster this new relationship and bring our engaging dance programming to residents of Newport Beach, as well as invited guests from around Orange County. These events will offer a unique dance experience with Jennifer Backhaus and company members suitable for all dance lovers ages 1-100!
An exterior shot of the City of Newport Beach City Hall.
The City of Newport has a long history of appreciation and support for cultural arts events, education and organizations. The Newport Beach City Arts Commission brings cultural and arts programming to the community. Activities are ongoing throughout the year and include the coordination of revolving art and cultural exhibitions at Central Library; the Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition; Concerts on the Green; and a variety of arts, lectures and special events. Through its cultural arts grants program, Newport Beach also supports diverse cultural events such as the Newport Beach Film Festival and Newport Beach Food and Wine festival.
Donate $200 or more and you’ll be entered to win a Meet & Greet Lunch with Artistic Director Jenny Backhaus.
Learn more about our 10 Days of Gratitude.
DAY 4: GRATEFUL FOR OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS
Where would we be without sound fiscal leadership? Today, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board members.
Where would we be without sound fiscal leadership? Today, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board members. It is through the beautiful art form of dance that we are brought together to share ideas, connections, triumphs and hardships. Their fiscal guidance and support of the creative process is vital to Backhausdance’s success.
Our gratitude goes to our:
Board of Directors
Michael Kerr, Board President
Robert Farnsworth
Joann Leatherby
Lynda Thomas
Advisory Board Members
Mayra Castro Gutierrez, Chair
Nancy Dickson-Lewis
Jeremy Hunt
Kim Olmos
Proud Usahacharoenporn
Donate $150 or more and you’ll be entered to win two tickets to a Pacific Symphony Orchestra performance.
Learn more about our 10 Days of Gratitude.
DAY 3: GRATEFUL FOR OUR REHEARSAL SPACE PROVIDERS
Backhausdance relies on hours upon hours – nearly 500 hours this season, to be more exact – of rehearsal to create and perfect dance works before we premiere them to our audience.
Backhausdance relies on hours upon hours – nearly 500 hours this season, to be more exact – of rehearsal to create and perfect dance works before we premiere them to our audience. The Wooden Floor and Chapman University generously donate this rehearsal space and we are forever indebted for their support. We truly couldn’t have created the four premieres you will see at our February 3, 2017 performance at the Barclay, without the roofs over our heads and floors under our feet that The Wooden Floor and Chapman University provide.
#BDSeason14 dancers striking a pose in front of The Wooden Floor.
Located in Santa Ana, The Wooden Floor's mission is to empower low-income youth from diverse backgrounds to strengthen self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through dance, academic, and family programs. Backhausdance is thankful for our longstanding partnership and will continue supporting the students of The Wooden Floor in their technical and artistic development through offering scholarships to our Summer Intensive programs.
Chapman University – home to artists, adventurers, leaders and scientists – is a significant strategic partner. The University provides rehearsal space during Backhausdance’s season, and hosts our Summer Intensive programming as well as our Backhausdance: Deconstructed performances in August. The company is happy to provide performance and extra training opportunities to Chapman students throughout the year and accepts graduates into Backhausdance as trainees, apprentices and full company members.
We are also grateful to Salwa Rizkalla and Southland Ballet Academy in Fountain Valley. Whenever we have run into a scheduling issue with our regular rehearsal space providers, they have opened their studio to us, free of charge. Thank you!
Please contribute today to help Backhausdance provide scholarship opportunities to students from both of these distinguished programs. Donate $75 or more today and you’ll be entered to win 2 passes to a Backhausdance rehearsal.
Learn more about our 10 Days of Gratitude.
DAY 2: GRATEFUL FOR THE CREATIVITY OF OUR GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS
When an audience sits down to experience a Backhausdance performance, they witness a visually stunning and captivating display of movement and artistry. What you may not realize is how many components go into making that happen.
When an audience sits down to experience a Backhausdance performance, they witness a visually stunning and captivating display of movement and artistry. What you may not realize is how many components go into making that happen. Today, we show gratitude for our fantastic guest choreographers. Here is a closer look at the three talented dance makers whose creativity you will see on stage at our February 3, 2017 concert at Irvine Barclay Theatre.
DALE A. MERRILL is currently Dean of the College of the Arts at Cal State Fullerton. He was the artistic director of Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle, WA (1985 -2002), and under his direction, Spectrum grew from a community dance company to a repertory jazz company of national prominence. Born in Richland, WA, Dale performed with Ballet West, Pioneer Memorial Theater and The Utah Ballet Ensemble. In 1992, he became one of the first MFA in Dance graduates at the University of Washington. Dale has more than 25 years of choreographic credits including numerous original works, musical theater production, and a Public Television special.
IDO TADMOR is the 2011 recipient of Israel’s highly respected Landau Prize for lifetime achievement. He was artistic director of the Israeli Ballet from 2012 to 2014, and led his own Tel Aviv-based company for 13 years, 1995 to 2007. Today, he travels the world as a lead dancer, choreographer, judge in professional dance competitions, artistic advisor and artistic director of competitions and festivals. During his extensive performing career, Ido has worked with an illustrious roster of internationally acclaimed choreographers and been a principal dancer in companies including Bat Sheva Dance Company, Scapino Ballet and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company.
YIN YUE is a versatile performer, choreographer, and artistic director of Yin Yue Dance Company. Born and raised in Shanghai, China, she studied classical ballet technique, Chinese classical and folk dance. After graduating with a MFA in dance from NYU's Tisch School of The Arts in 2008, Yin quickly gained attention as a highly original choreographer and performer. She’s been selected as Artist In Resident at 92Y Dance Center, received first place in Choreography at the Shanghai Professional Performance Competition, won Hubbard Street Dance Chicago International Commissioning Project, BalletX Choreographic Fellowship, and Northwest Dance Project 5th Annual Pretty Creatives International Choreographic Competition.
Join us in our mission to create excellent art and educate the community about the relevance of concert dance. Help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 in 10 days on this #GivingTuesday.
Donate $50 or more today and you’ll be entered to win a Backhausdance T-shirt.
Learn more about our 10 Days of Gratitude.
DAY 1: GRATEFUL FOR BACKHAUSDANCERS
As another year comes to a close and we kick off our 10 Days of Gratitude, there is no better place to start than by thanking the Backhausdancers for their amazing dedication to the mission and creative legacy of the company.
#BDSeason14 Dancers (L to R): Sammy DeAngelo (apprentice), Chihiro Sano, Evan Swenson, Amanda Kay White, Joshua King, Kaitlin Regan, Amie Lee Kilgore, Toshiro Abbley & Katie Natwick (apprentice).
As another year comes to a close and we kick off our 10 Days of Gratitude, there is no better place to start than by thanking the Backhausdancers for their amazing dedication to the mission and creative legacy of the company. They work tirelessly to maintain beautiful and strong technique, mature artistry, and to provide innovative movement and inspiration to all of the choreographers who engage with Backhausdance.
This season, we are happy to welcome Toshiro Abbley as a company member, as well as Sammy DeAngelo and Katie Natwick as apprentices. You will see them all perform alongside Backhausdance favorites Amanda Kay White, Tawny Chapman, Chihiro Sano, Kaitlin Regan, Joshua King, Amie Lee Kilgore and Evan Swenson, at our February 3, 2017 concert at Irvine Barclay Theatre.
I am thankful every day that I am able to make art with these amazing artists and caring, sensitive humans. They are truly a light in my life.
Help us provide rehearsal and performance pay for these talented artists. Donate $15 or more today and you’ll be entered to win a poster autographed by the entire 2016-2017 company.
Learn more about our 10 Days of Gratitude.