Synapse Dance Theater – the innovative and widely praised contemporary dance ensemble of Santa Monica College – will present a program showcasing new works by professional guest artists, award-winning faculty artists, and up-and-coming student choreographers this Friday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 23.
Performances are at 7:30 pm on Friday, Nov. 21, and 4 pm and 7:30 pm Sunday, Nov. 23, in The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, Santa Monica Boulevard and 11th Street, Santa Monica.
The dance styles include Contemporary Ballet, Modern, Postmodern, and Jazz, as well as Hip Hop, Fusion, and more.
The program will feature works by Synapse co-artistic directors Jae Lee and Mark Tomasic; guest artists Kate Hutter and Joelle Martinec; and faculty choreographers Seda Aybay, Angela Jordan, Karen McDonald, and Roberta Wolin-Tupas. Also creating new dance works for the performance are student choreographers Juan Diaz, Alex Perez, Glenn Rodriguez, and Rachael Servello.
Jae Lee, co-director of Synapse, professional dancer, and a dance professor at SMC, is originally from South Korea. Her contemporary modern “Amalgamated” illustrates merging voices of the past and present, creating new directions for the future.
SMC dance professor Mark Tomasic, co-director of Synapse and a professional choreographer and dancer, has worked with a variety of renowned dance companies.
His modern dance/theatrical dance “Barbara, Katherine, Grace” explores dynamics of expression, suppression, and control in familial and romantic relationships.
Guest choreographer Kate Hutter is co-founder and artistic director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC). She presents her choreography at venues throughout LA, creates new works for LACDC, and teaches at the Brockus Project Space.
Guest choreographer Joelle Martinec is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer of Los Angeles-based SoleVita Dance Company, which has performed in music videos and at numerous venues throughout L.A., and was a finalist in the Dance under the Stars Choreography Festival.
Student choreographer Alex Perez, who received his first dance training on the streets of Los Angeles in street battles/events, joined the dance department at Alexander Hamilton High School, and is currently a dance major at Santa Monica College.
Featured Synapse dancer Maisha Morris also performs with Contra-Tiempo Urban Latin Dance Theater, and teaches and performs both in the U.S. and abroad.
Synapse has earned a reputation for artistic excellence and innovation since it was founded more than three decades ago.
The student troupe has performed throughout the nation, including the Electric Lodge in Venice; the Cast Theater in Hollywood; the Getty Center in Los Angeles; and American College Dance festivals in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, and New Jersey.
Tickets range from $15 to $18. Parking is free.
For tickets, go to www.smc.edu/eventsinfo or call 310.434.3005. For more information, please see www.smc.edu/dance or call 310.434.3467.
