Covenant Dance Theatre
The 2007 year will mark Covenant Dance Studio's 20th
anniversary in Sheepshead Bay and to kick off its celebratory year the school and its professional dance company, Covenant Dance Theatre will present its Holiday Delight concert at Kingsborough Community College's
Marine Academic Center Playhouse on Wednesday and Thursday, December 6 and 7, 2006 at 7:30pm. This holiday
production delighted a sold-out audience last year and returns with its three festive dances and a new offering. The Company premier entitled Celebrate will open the evening with a rendition of the Carol of the Bells and followed by Gospel Suite, a vivacious and spirited dancing nativity. Clara's Dream brings a charming adaptation of Act II of the Nutcracker, and Fantastic Toys is the evening's delightful, comic, fairytale finale. Guest artists from Covenant Dance Theatre and students from Covenant Dance Studio will perform. Covenant Dance Studio was founded in 1987 by Director Marla Hirokawa. Originally from Hawaii, an alumnus of the University of California at Irvine's
dance program and current adjunct modern dance instructor at Kingsborough Community College, she has been producing dancers and ballets for the last 20 years. Although Hirokawa is overseeing Holiday Delight, it is completely choreographed by several of her school's instructors and Company dancers.
Brenda Neville, the school's upper division ballet instructor and Company principal dancer has staged and choreographed both Clara's Dream and Fantastic Toys. She also is the Artistic Director and choreographer of Neville Dance Theatre. Rebeccah Hope Brann, the school's modern dance instructor and also a Company principal dancer choreographed Gospel Suite and several solos in Fantastic Toys. In August, Ms. Brann founded the Hope Dance NYC modern dance summer workshop program in Enterprise, Oregon. Mandy Sau Yi Chan, the school's lower division ballet instructor and Company principal
dancer choreographed portions of Clara's Dream and Fantastic Toys. And finally, Joseph Tudisco, also a Company principal dancer has choreographed Celebrate.
Covenant Dance Studio opened after Hirokawa saw a need for a serious ballet school in south Brooklyn. She
formed Covenant Dance Theatre in 1989 to choreograph and give her students meaningful performing experiences
dancing alongside professionals. CDS students have gone on to study at Julliard, American Ballet Theatre School, School of American Ballet, Ailey School's Certificate and Fellowship programs, Joffrey Ballet School, SUNY
Purchase and other prestigious dance colleges. Former students have danced professionally with Philadanco Dance Company, the Munich Ballet (Germany) and the Ballet Theatre of New Mexico.
This holiday concert launches a very eventful anniversary season for Covenant Dance Studio and Theatre. The spring season will include arts-ineducation
programs based on the Company's historic ballets and a luncheon fundraiser performance entitled Fables & Tales. In June 2007, the Company will present Movements in
Time: a 20th Anniversary Gala, which will be a homecoming celebration concert featuring former students and company members.
Tickets to Holiday Delight are $12 advance sales and $15 door sales. To obtain tickets or more information about the December 6th and 7th performances, call Covenant Dance Studio at 718.891.6199 or online at www.covenantdance.com.