RBR Presents “Broadway”, a Winter Dance Concert

The Red Bank Regional (RBR) Visual and Performing Arts Academy present Broadway, a winter dance concert featuring 20 dance numbers to the music of popular Broadway shows and songs. Students and two guest choreographers have created dances set to "Cell Block Tango," Chicago, "Phantom," Phantom of the Opera, "One Song Glory," Rent, "Popular," and "Defying Gravity," Wicked, "Money, Money, Money" and "Voulez Vous," Mamma Mia among many others. The performances take place on Friday, December 17 at 7 pm and Saturday, December 18 at 2 pm. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.  Senior citizens over the age of 65 are invited free of charge. Tickets can be obtained at the door the day of the performance or by calling 732-842-8000 ext. 364.

The opening dance features the spectacular prologue to West Side Story, one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. The number, choreographed by senior Anthony Tiedeman of Red Bank, was inspired by a class trip the students took last year to the Broadway play. Before the performance, the students were taught the actual dance choreography by a dancer in the musical. Anthony was able to incorporate much of what the students were taught in his version of the dance.

"One of the major components contributing to our dance program success is the use of student choreography," explains RBR Dance teacher Dorianne Murray. She adds, "It gives the students ownership and amazing real life experience that they need in auditioning for a college dance program, community theatre or Broadway production where they are asked to perform an original piece. Our students have an edge since they have already done it."

Senior Sarah Trufulo of Little Silver exemplifies her teacher's statement speaking so enthusiastically about her choreographed piece "He Lives In You" from The Lion King.

She explains, The Lion King is my favorite play and I fell in love with the song and was inspired to create a dance. I also love African Dance, which we had a workshop on at school last year. But I also researched all different types of African dance originating from different countries and incorporated what I discovered into my dance." She adds, "The African dances are a celebration of life and I wanted this to be a big uplifting number."

The student choreographers are also responsible for teaching their class the movements to their dance. The process mimics real-world experience since an independent instructor (in this case guest artist Barbara Vari, Director of the Woodbridge School of Dance) decides who will be in what number. In addition to Barbara Vari, who has choreographed a piece from A Chorus Line, RBR alumnus Cara France, Little Silver, and graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia returns to her alma mater to choreograph for the Winter Concert. Both guest artists have also worked with the students during their school year, another component of the program which makes the RBR program unique and relevant. According to Dorianne Murray, RBR features several guest artists per month in its dance program.

Dorianne Murray explains, "Students will be taking direction from many different artists in college or for work performance. Guest artists also offer a variety of creativity from which they can learn and grow their craft."

For more information on the RBR VPA dance concert, contact RBR dance teacher Dorianne Murray at 732-842-8000 ext. 364.