Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Guy Thorne and Melinda Phillips Perform William Grant Still's 'Sahdji' in Rochester, New York Jan. 12-15


[Melinda Phillips, Guy Thorne (Copyright Carrie Mateosian Photography)]

Guy Thorne, who was born in Guyana, is Director and Co-Founder of FuturPointe Dance. Melinda Phillips is a native of Rochester and a performer with the company. Both will perform in William Grant Still's Sahdji at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Performances are also scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com. The entry on Sahdji begins: Sahdji, for dancers, bass, SATB & orchestra, in 1 scene (1930). New York: Carl Fischer.” Recordings, sheet music and books of William Grant Still are available at www.WilliamGrantStill.com, which is operated by Judith Anne Still, the composer's daughter.

RochesterCityNewspaper.com

By Casey Carlsen on January 11, 2012
“Duets will highlight FuturPointe's time onstage in Fabo Collabo. In 'Sahdji,' an African love story with an urban twist set to William Grant Still's ballet for chorus and orchestra, Thorne will perform with Melinda Phillips. The company premiered the piece last year with Buffalo Opera Unlimited to live choral and orchestral music.”



“GUY THORNE, Director
A native of Guyana (South America), Thorne moved to the island of Jamaica where he graduated with a professional diploma in Dance Theatre Production from the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts. He moved to the US as a scholarship student at Dance Theater of Harlem NYC before becoming principal dancer with Garth Fagan Dance for 7 years. Thorne holds a BFA in dance from State University of NY, Brockport. Guy has over 15 years of professional experience & has toured extensively and taught master classes throughout the world including Italy, Germany, Hawaii, France, the UK & Austria. He has been reviewed favorably on several occasions by the NY Times & has danced in such notable US spaces as the Ted Shawn Theater (Jacob's Pillow), The Lincoln Center & Kennedy Center among others. .... the always impressive Guy Thorne... is all swagger, sexiness and youthful bravado in modern movements. ~Bernard J.Tarver. As co-founder, co-director, choreographer, performer & teacher of FUTURPOINTE DANCE Thorne’s current choreographic work explores the confluence of folklore, popular and contemporary dance forms infused with his short film & multi-media creations.


“MELINDA PHILLIPS was born and raised in Rochester, NY. She attended Rochester's School of the Arts High School majoring in dance and drama. Her education in dance continued and she graduated from SUNY Brockport with a BA in Dance. One of Melinda's assets has been her comfort level with and excitement at exploring many different dance styles. Her focus thus far has been in Modern dance, traditional West African, Tap, Hispanic dance, and Afro House. Melinda has performed as a member of Voices Dance Ensemble, and been a member, performer and choreographer for Sankofa African Dance Ensemble and Akoma Ntoaso Dance. She has also been a member and instructor for AfriKuumba, instructor with Kuumba Consultants and is a founding member and choreographer for Ba Bes Dance. She currently teaches and performs throughout the city of Rochester in the local schools and for Garth Fagan School of Dance and is a dancer, performer and choreographer with FuturPointe Dance.”

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