BRATTLEBORO — Dance 'n Biscuit is a dance show to delight the senses.
On Saturday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m., SoBo Studio in Brattleboro will showcase original contemporary dance pieces by local and regional artists. Featuring seven works of contemporary and modern dance, each with different themes and stories, 11 professional artists will perform in a one hour show without intermission.
Scheduled to appear are Zombie Nation and the Trumpet Kids, Tara Dance Company, Cyndal Ellis, Toni Nagy, Elora Way, Erika Klemperer, Katy Tordonato, Katherine Rose, Heather Meehan, and Jack Kavanagh.
Dance 'n Biscuit is directed by Ellis, SoBo Studio's manager and co-director. She says SoBo is a community dance center committed to keeping dance accessible, non-competitive, and a vital part of the health and growth of the community.
Sobo has weekly dance and fitness classes, mostly for adults. Teaching an array of dance from ballet, modern dance, hip hop, and belly, Ellis says SoBo instructors are warm, welcoming, and mindful of every student's needs.
“Our diverse array of classes, from classical to contemporary, are affordable and conveniently scheduled to fit your busy lives,” writes Ellis at SoBo's website. “Whether you're interested in simply getting fit, learning dance for the first time, getting back into dance after a break, or continuing to develop your dance technique, SoBo has classes to suit your needs.”
Ellis teaches Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, Modern Dance, and Dunham Technique at SoBo and at area schools. With more than 20 years of dance experience, Ellis has taught at Jacob's Pillow, Smith College, Landmark College, and grade schools throughout New England. She co-founded The Sovereign Collective with which she performed and taught nationally.
Each piece in Dance 'n Biscuit is individually choreographed by its performers. Ellis, as director of the event, organizes all advertising, created a poster, and oversees the lighting and stagecraft.
In addition, she has been been working with SoBo intern Erika Klemperer to create an opening hymn based on the music of grunge bands.
Ellis has been dancing since she was 11, when she began her studies of ballet and modern dance in middle and high school. Then she rebelled against dance and for a few years immersed herself in academia. However, the lure of dance was too strong and she soon returned to her passion.
Then, she injured herself. The calamitous event actually was fortuitous because it turned her on to belly dancing.
“I no longer could kick my legs high and you didn't have to with bellydance,” she told The Commons. “I began exploring the world of studied fusion belly dance.”
While it is a part of SoBo, Ellis has recently started a separate dance company focusing on belly dance, which later this year will be giving an all-belly dance recital. There will be no belly dance in Dance 'n Biscuits.
Originally from Texas, Ellis has lived in Vermont for the last 11 years. She first visited the state when she was visiting an ex-boyfriend exactly at the moment 9/11 happened. The tragic event was part of the reason she wanted to come back to live here, as a beautiful and safe place to make her home. After having seen a performance by Bread & Puppet Theater, she felt she belonged here.
Before founding SoBo, Ellis worked with the previous occupant of the space, a woman's dance studio.
“We wanted to open a new studio that would focus on adults, but also to provide a family friendly environment,” says Ellis. “Parents are always welcome to bring their kids, and we have a playroom in the back.
“Average enrollments in classes is from four to 11 students. But unlike other dance studios drop ins are welcome at SoBo, so the number of people we reach is somewhat unclear. There are 350 on our email list, but that does not include everyone who has attended.
“Sobo has all kinds of students, from beginners to post-college graduates and professionals. Students range in age from 4 to senior citizens. I have just had a private lesson with a dancer of 82. Our intimate space is perfect for that sort of thing.”
Although in some way or another all the people performing in Dance 'n Biscuits are connected with SoBo, it is not a dance recital to show the talents of its students.
“All performers in this show are dance professionals,” says Ellis. “Some teach here, and others tune up via our classes.”
Ellis says the evening's title is play on the Bread & Puppet's contention that you need to feed the masses to get your message across.
“Indeed with this political climate, it is appropriate that many of the dance pieces will be very political, often in a comedic vein,” she adds. “I am hoping that we may have a guest appearance of Zombie Trump. After the show, we will indeed be offering biscuits to the audience, who we hope will stay a bit and join us with an informal discussion with the performers.”