El Vaquero

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Ismael Reyes Nare Sahakyan performs her solo "Dedication to Someone Special" during the Phanatics dance performance.

Students in the dance department took to the stage on Nov. 3 for "Phanatics," a one-night only dance extravaganza, showcasing some of the best student choreographed routines.


The 11 dance numbers covered a wide range of genres: from hip-hop to pop, to break dancing and belly dancing, all of the routines managed to sprinkle a dash of flavor, making the showcase tasteful and entertaining.


One of the evenings star performers was Nare Sahakyan, whose first performance, "Dedication to Someone Special," set to Whitney Houston's "Run to You," flooded the dance floor with energy, in spite of the music's tempo. Sahakyan returned to the dance floor, accompanied by Lily Sargsyan, for "The Comeback," a routine set to Fiona Apple's "Fast as You Can."


Mario Mason, a familiar face in both the theater and dance departments, graced the floor on two separate occasions. Mason's first performance included Selin Minassians, Esteban Martinez and Ani Ginosyan, in a number titled "The Laboratory," which was set to "Wind it Up" by Gwen Stefani.


In "The Laboratory," mad scientists played by Mason and Martinez, fall in love with their robots, played by Minassians and Ginosyan. Trouble ensues when the robots come to life, turning on their masters, while keeping in step with the beat.


A solo per-formance by Martinez in "Man Without a Suitcase" toned down the evening's energy with a folk melody and Martinez's theatrically graceful movements, reminiscent of a ballet.


A lesson in break dancing came courtesy of Eizel and Anthony Lingad, with their
number titled "Unrehearsed," an improvised routine which incorporated some basic break dancing elements.


Defying gravity with an assortment of power moves, the Lingad duo generated cheers throughout the Sierra Nevada dance studio, proving that the street dance style made popular in the early '70s by African American and Puerto Rican youth residing in the south Bronx in New York still stands as a popular and legitimate dance style.


Adding a dose of exotic dancing, Ruth Bliss took to the floor with a belly dancing routine titled "Bliss." Bliss' beautiful wardrobe, accentuated by the sound of finger cymbals, created a Middle Eastern ambiance, diversifying "Phanatics" and standing out among the other acts.

Continued...

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