NEWS RELEASE -- WORLD-RENOWN CHOREOGRAPHER'S WORK FEATURED AT SCPA

NEWS RELEASE from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, April 12, 2010

WORLD-RENOWN CHOREOGRAPHER'S WORK FEATURED AT SCPA

The Jose Limón Dance Foundation Grants Permission to SCPA Dancers to Perform Missa Brevis

José Limón, the world-renown dancer and choreographer who died in 1972, was viscerally moved by the devastation of war-torn Europe in 1945 and its effect on the people of Poland when his dance company toured Europe funded by the US Department of State. The spirit and optimism of the people of Europe, as they began to rebuild their countries,inspired Mr. Limón to create Missa Brevis in 1958, a dance he described as "an act of faith".

Fransisco Ruvalcaba, principal dancer with the internationally acclaimed Jose Limon Dance Company, has restaged this classic Limón repertory piece, "Missa Brevis" as part of SCPA's Spring Odyssey Dance Concert on April 16, 17, 22 and 23 at 7 pm and April 24 at 2 pm at SCPA's Florence Johnson Grand Theater.

Mr. Ruvalcaba has taught and restaged Limón classics in many professional dance companies and universities throughout the United States and Mexico. SCPA is the only high school in the nation to be granted permission from the Jose Limón Dance Foundation for its students to learn and perform Missa Brevis, a dance that remains relevant today as the United States traverses through the tragedy of war throughout the Middle East and Africa. Missa Brevis, will be performed by 30 SCPA dancers and three Coronado School of the Arts dancers.

The Spring Odyssey Dance Concert will also feature choreography by three other guest choreographers. Christopher Huggins, a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and noted as "Top 10 Artists to Watch" by Dance Magazine, returns for a second SCPA Spring Concert. As a revered international guest artist, with stunning choreography, he also teaches at Philadelphia¹s University of the Arts. Hip Hop artist, Ruben Ludlow, Fusion, has choreographed/performed in professional commercial videos, tours, etc. with Beyonce, Akon, P. Diddy, Missy Elliott, Will Smith, Sisqo, Tyrese, Jagged Edge, the MTV VMA Awards and more. He is currently guest choreographer/performer for a new, hit show on GMA network in the Phillipines. Lauren Siino performances include ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. She has performed with California Ballet, Unity and currently teaches at Culture Shock in San Diego.

Tickets to April 16-24 dance performances are $8 and $6 and may be purchased through the SCPA Box Office at (619) 475-8556.

SCPA is a SDUSD public arts magnet school for artistically talented students in grades 6-12. For more information about SCPA, please visit our website. This concert is funded in part through the 21st Century After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Grant.

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San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
2425 Dusk Dr., San Diego, CA 92139-2412
Tel.: (619) 470-0555 Fax: (619) 479-8449
www.scpa.sandi.net

CONTACTS

Mitzi Lizárraga, Principal 619.470.0555 x202 mlizarraga1@sandi.net
Richard Trujillo, Artistic Director 619.470.0555 x212 rtrujillo@sandi.net