ST. GEORGE – The St. George Dance Company, a professional modern dance group directed by Summer Belnap Robertson, will collaborate with the Southwest Symphony in the annual “Opus Pocus Halloween Spooktacular.”
This wickedly fun performance will take place Thursday at the Dixie State University Cox Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. It will feature three pieces by the St. George Dance Company set to the musical magic performed by the symphony.
Choreographer Becky Reed, who recently retired as director of dance at Pine View High School, has created a witch prowl to selections from the Broadway hit “Wicked.”
Reed said while describing her piece:
What could be more catastrophic to a witch than to lose her magic? Our four witches experience that very frustration, realizing that losing their magic makes them vulnerable and causes them to experience the tragic angst of an identity crisis. They bump up against each other, point out each others shortcomings, argue and fight only to find that when they work together the magic within each of them occurs – finding common ground to build on their individual strengths.
Choreographer Micadyn Sanders, who has been commissioned by St. George Dance Company in the past, returns to create a work to “Bella’s Lullaby” from “Twilight.” Sanders introduces a light-hearted vampire to the stage whose only dream is to dance with a group of ballerinas. The vampire consults an enchanted witch hoping the witch’s magic will help convince the ballerinas to accept the vampire into their ballet troupe.
Dancers Rebekah Wainwright and Cassidee Edmunds will skitter about quite playfully as they perform a skeleton ballet duet to “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saéns. This ballet was originally choreographed for and debuted as a crowd favorite at the October 2013 “Spooktacular” by Jennie Jones and Cassidee Edmunds.
In addition to these works, conductor Lucas Darger will also lead the symphony in playing a very exciting lineup, which will include “Night on Bald Mountain” by Mussorgsky, “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod and selections from “Phantom of the Opera.”
Tickets for the “Opus Pocus Halloween Spooktacular” will be available for purchase at dsutix.com or by calling the DSU box office at 435-652-7800.
Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $5 for students. Children in costumes are admitted free.
Event details
- What: The Southwest Symphony “Opus Pocus Halloween Spooktacular” featuring the St. George Dance Company, with a preshow by the Hurricane High School Orchestra.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.
- Where: DSU Cox Center for the Performing Arts, 325 S. University Ave., St. George.
- Cost: Students,$5; adults, $17; seniors, $15; children in costume, free.
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