By
Aaron Cowman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA School of Music and Dance offers dance, vocal jazz performances this weekend
The UA School of Music and Dance has prepared a weekend of song and dance centered around the theme of jazz.
"It's kind of a jazzy weekend," said Jory Hancock, dance department head.
The dance division of the School of Music and Dance is presenting the Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase, which spans four days. The "Jazz in AZ" performance tonight will commence by showcasing a mixture of dance forms.
The program will include "Purple Suspenders and a Yellow Tie" and "Excursions," both of which were presented in last weekend's "Family Ties" show.
Also scheduled on the bill is "Swingle Singers," choreographed by Susan Quinn, and "Tsetse Fly," by Sam Watson, both UA assistant professors of dance.
"'Tsetse Fly' is just crazy," said Hancock. "I saw the costumes and they are just hilarious. I think people will really enjoy the piece."
Tonight's show is open to the public, but the rest of the Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase, consisting of classes taught by University of Arizona faculty and guest artists, is intended for students in the dance program. About 750 people from around the country will participate in this weekend of learning and performing.
Mia Michaels, a New York City choreographer, is one of those scheduled.
"She is really in demand right now," Hancock said.
Michaels will be joined by Sherry Zunker, the artistic director for River North, a Chicago dance company, and Richard Havey, the artistic director of a professional dance conservatory in Zurich, Switzerland.
Havey, in addition to the classes, will perform a solo piece titled "Russia" as well as a duet, titled "Bricks," for tonight's production.
"Having him here is kind of a tradition," Hancock said. "He's someone who can really hold the stage."
Watson and Havey helped get "Jazz in AZ" off the ground nearly a decade ago, Hancock said.
"They came in as guests and donated their time," he said. "The last nine or 10 years, they have been very helpful."
The dance department is not the only group jazzing up the weekend. The UA Vocal Jazz Ensemble is performing tonight and Saturday in the Holsclaw Recital Hall.
The Jazz Ensemble will perform modern and contemporary jazz, along with nUAnce, a rockapella group, that will perform Toto's "Africa," and other rock tunes without musical accompaniment.
Vocal Ease, a seven-voice women's group, will join the other two groups for an hour and a half, intermission-free show.
"The music just rolls together," said Jim Taylor, adjunct assistant professor of jazz. "If we added the intermission, the show would be two hours long."
A portion of the show will involve a freestyle section that allows the audience to get involved.
"(The group) will be making up songs on the spot," Taylor said.
The ensemble will be accompanied by the piano, bass, drums and guest saxophonist Mike Hay.
"He's fabulous," Taylor said. "He's one of the hot, hot players in town."
Whether it be dance or vocal performance, jazz fans should find something to meets their needs this weekend.
