Vibrations Dance Company
Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence in Contemporary Dance
VIBRATIONS DANCE COMPANY
presents
“SISTA GIRL AND THE SOLDIER: THE URBAN NUTCRACKER”
Back by popular demand, the South Carolina Multicultural Arts Center and Columbia Music Festival Association present Vibrations Dance Company (VDC) in the Midland's most exciting holiday performance: “Sista Girl And The Soldier: The Urban Nutcracker,” on Friday, December 9, 2011 and Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 7:30 PM and on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 3:00 PM at USC’s Drayton Hall, located at the corner of College and Sumter Streets.” Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at The Turning Pointe, 5143 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC, (803) 782-8188. Ticket prices are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. A group rate of $18/person is available for the Sunday matinee performance only, for groups of ten or more. For information contact Evie Belton at vibrations200@hotmail.com, (803) 361-5262 or visit www.vibrationsdancecompany.org and www.terrancehenderson.com. This year’s production of “Sista Girl” is supported in part by a Hospitality Tax Grant from the City of Columbia, The State Newspaper, The Turning Pointe, the MacNair Firm, and the members of the VCD Club 100.
“VDC’s production of Sista Girl debuted in 2003,” says, Evie Belton, VDC Executive Director and Founder Named “one of Columbia’s most fun and dynamic holiday shows, “Sista Girl” is a contemporary urban re-telling of the traditional ballet “The Nutcracker” which is based on the classic Hoffman story. The music is an eclectic mix of the original Tchaikovsky score and a wide variety of contemporary and traditional music including soul, gospel, R&B, pop, musical theater, hip-hop, Latin, and rock . Live music will also be featured in this year’s performance by Columbia, South Carolina’s renowned SANDLAPPER SINGERS, under the direction of Dr. Lillian Quackenbush.
“This production and the choreography during the performance bring audiences together with a fun, engaging and modern approach to telling classic American holiday season traditions,” says VDC Artistic Director, Terrence Henderson. “Sista Girl” is inspired by VDC's mission to create dance that represents our own time and the people of our community. “A first of its kind for the Midlands, “Sista Girl” reaches the hearts of our community like no other holiday show” continues Henderson, “ It has a palpable and magical energy that only VDC can create.”
Terrance Henderson, a Newberry native and University of South Carolina graduate, served as the South Carolina Arts Commission 2010 Dance Performance Fellow, was named a “Top-Ten Artist under 30 in South Carolina” by The State Newspaper in 2005, and received the Youth American Grand Prix Outstanding Contemporary Choreography Award in 2004. Henderson is also the recipient of the 2009 Jazz Dance World Congress Bronze Leo Award for Outstanding Choreography for his piece entitled “STAND,” which was performed by the company during July of 2009 for an audience of professional choreographers, dancers and other industry insiders during the Jazz Dance World Congress. Henderson and VDC were among fourteen finalists selected from applicants from across the globe to perform at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
SHOW SYNOPSIS
“Sista Girl” is a contemporary adaptation and re-telling of The Nutcracker, which has delighted audiences over the past 10 years. “Sista Girl” is an evening of color, music and dance of all styles and genres: rock, soul, Latin, gospel, jazz, pop, and musical theater.
“Sista Girl” itself begins by taking audience members to a holiday dinner party at Mama Dee’s' house. During this opening scene a wacky cast of family members and friends are introduced, as well as the beautiful Clarice, lovingly known as Sista Girl, the family's pride and joy. Soldier Boy, a guest at the party and Sista Girl meet and it was love at first sight. As the party comes to a close, Mama Dee falls asleep and wakes up in the Valley of Peace, which is covered by Snow and then taken on a magical journey through the Hood of Sweets: Red Town, a fantastical city ruled by the Lady Red Velvet; Chocolate Palace, at the royal court of Queen Godiva and the Hershey King who have just captured the Princess Mocha of the Land of Latte; the streets of Ambrosia Land, home of the dancing fruits at the Ambrosia Land Café, run by Senorita Ambrosia; and, Sweet Potato Pie appearing at the Pieville Theatre featuring the most dappy, dancing sugar canes.
A gospel celebration concludes the show as Sista Girl and the Soldier take their vows during a grand wedding celebration and begin their new life together surrounded by the spirits of peace, harmony, and good will.
The 2011 production incorporates student dancers from the Logan Leopard Dancing Paws from Logan Elementary School, as well as the Dreher High School dance department.
For more information contact:
Evie Belton @ (803) 361-5262 or email vibrations200@hotmail.com
Terrance Henderson, Artistic Director
2009 Jazz Dance World Congress Bronze Leo Award for Outstanding Choreography
2009-2010 South Carolina Arts Commission Dance Fellow
Evie Belton, Founder/Executive Director
803. 361. 5262
Vibrations Dance Company is a Founding Member of the South Carolina Multicultural Arts Center,
and is sponsored in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission.
