Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT) will host the West Virginia Dance Company for a performance on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Founded in 1977, WV Dance Company has been serving public venues, schools, colleges and universities with entertaining and thought-provoking performances and workshops through the language of dance. Recognized for both artistic achievement and excellence in arts education, WVDC has toured throughout West Virginia, as well as 14 other states, reaching tens of thousands of people each year. WV Dance Company’s current concert program for public venues has an evening that has something that people of all ages can enjoy together.
The evening starts with a new work of choreography “Purple Emergence” by Toneta Akers-Toler to a new composition by Holden Akers-Toler based on the traditions of Blues and Caribbean music genres.
“I have a long history and love for GVT”, says Toneta Akers-Toler. “Many years ago, I created a movement story for the GVT production of The Glass Menagerie in 2001. Many of our folks have a connection to Lewisburg and the theatre. We love coming back to GVT.”
Next will be world renowned dance artist Gerri Houlihan’s duet, “In Your Dreams”, which will be performed by Dane Toney and Emily Dodrill Akers. The first act will end with a group work by Houlihan performed by the main company to the delightful music of J. S. Bach. These works by Gerri Houlihan were created in Miami on her dance company and have been set on many dance companies and university programs. This group work “Beyond Angels” can only be described as uplifting and enjoyable.
After intermission three more works will finish out an evening with highlights of joy, history, irony, intrigue and entertaining moments to offer some unique adventures for the entire audience. Dane Toney’s “Triptych” will explore Wisdom, Boredom, and Balance to music of J. S. Bach, Mark Davis and Michel Legrand. Donald Laney, past co-artistic director of WVDC will follow with a new solo that is always a highlight of WVDC’s touring season. The evening closes with Donald Laney’s “Bull Moose Special” that is performed to an original story and music composition by Adam Booth. This ending work with the powerful choreography that depicts the story has been a work that audience members everywhere have inquired for ways to experience again and again.
All the dance artists will send the audience home with their feet moving and their minds dancing! Dancers Emily Dodrill Akers, Toneta Akers-Toler, Kristen Fisher, Carsyn Harris, Bailey Heffernan, Donald Laney, Chloe Mansheim, Owen Tidd and Dane Toney will magically capture the many different styles of dance during the evening. Troy Snyder, lighting design artist, will add his talents to bring the evening to an experience for all to remember. Costumes and props will add to the kaleidoscopic visions of a multifaceted evening.
For tickets, visit https://gvtheatre.org/
