Echo Times

Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Clairenicole Smith Figari "sky dancing" in the College of Marin dance studio

It's a bird.
It's a plane.
No, it's Brennan Figari, the amazing aerial soloist for the upcoming Fall Dance Performance showcased by the dance department of College of Marin. Figari was one of fourteen students who were chosen for the performance. The auditions took place on September 1st and September 2nd in the dance building.
There was a low turnout due to the Labor Day holiday, and all of the people who auditioned made the cut. The dancers were split into groups and learned two types of dances: jazz with a mix of ballet, taught by Alan Scofield, and modern, free flow movement, taught by Kristi Kuhn. Scofield and Kuhn are the choreographers for the Fall Performance, entitled "All the Right Moves".
Kuhn has been a teacher of the dance department for twenty years. She is now the artistic coordinator of the entire department. She specializes in modern dance, ballet, choreography and improvisation. Dancing has been a part of her life since she was three years old and ballet was her first love of dance. As she watched Figari demonstrate his aerial expertise, excitement beamed in her eyes. This year's fall showcase will be a night to remember.
"It's gonna be fun!" said Figari.
Figari said that not only does the showcase include dances of the norm, including ballet and jazz, it will also entice the audience with tango, techno and circus arts.
Figari just started dancing a year ago, and has been partaking in circus arts for more than four years. He has dabbled in flying trapeze and is readily preparing for his auditions in the Fall for Cirque De Soleil and Cirque Eloize. This is his first semester at College Of Marin. Previously a student at UC Davis, he decided to take time this semester to focus on training for his auditions. His favorite type of dance is classic-based modern and he admits that learning the faster movements required in the audition were a little harder for him to grasp.
Other students that made the cut are as follows: Kelli Dewey, Jessica Hendrickson, Erin Miller, Kelly Pare, Chrissy Phillips, Holly Pierson, Angie Powell, Hillary Riddle, Amy Rogers, Sara Sass, Katy Spada and Nancy Villegos. "All the Right Moves" will be held in Kentfield on November 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th at 8 p.m. at in the Fine Arts Theatre. The cost will be $10.00 for students and $15.00 for non-students.
"You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back…nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive. It is not for the unsteady souls."-Merce Cunningham
The quote above is posted on the dance department's door. This year's Fall performance will be memorable, because every single dancer cherishes the moment when he is able to shine.

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