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Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) Visual and Performing Arts Department will present an Alumni Dance Concert, Saturday, March 24, at 8 p.m., in the Nash Theatre at the College’s Branchburg campus. The concert is being produced by Loretta Di Bianca Fois of Branchburg, director of RVCC’s dance program.

The concert is an opportunity for the College, the community, alumni and former dance students, guest artists and faculty to celebrate dance at RVCC. While dance classes have been offered at the College since the 1980’s, the concert is a celebration of 10 years of the Associate of Fine Arts in Dance degree program at RVCC. A reception hosted by the RVCC Dance Club will follow the performance.

The evening will feature performances by eight former RVCC dance students: Tonju Anik, Lauren Beirne, Morgaine DeLeonardis, Brittany Petrock, Jaclyn Priore, Claudia Soga, Mariah Lopez Solonick, and Jennifer Wrede.

Tonju Anik, a freelance choreographer and dancer, currently works as a dance instructor for Plainfield’s Community Outreach program, Heavenly J Dance Studios in Scotch Plains, and American Dance Studios in Edison. She also has performed with the TMAJ Modern Dance Company.

Lauren Beirne is the founder of Lauren Beirne Dance Works. Her work has been presented throughout the New York metropolitan area and in Indiana, most recently at Your Move, Dixon Place, John Jay College, West Fest, and the DUMBO Dance & Solo/Duo Festival. Her piece, The Principles: part 6, explores femininity, specifically how women in today’s society are expected to act in assigned gender roles. Beirne received an MFA in Dance from New York University.

Morgaine DeLeonardis’ creation, L.O.V.E., was inspired by the communication, vulnerability, and honestly necessary for falling in love. The piece is framed by a structured improvisational score in which the dancers have the creative freedom to make choices. DeLeonardis received a BFA in Dance from Temple University.

Brittany Petrock will present a new tap piece that piece combines verbal expression and rhythms to convey a message. Petrock is currently studying and dancing with tap dance legend Savion Glover at HooFeRzCLub in Newark.

Jaclyn Priore will present a group piece with video titled You can take the Mosque, but just give Us back the Ocean. The piece was inspired from her time studying in Israel, especially her conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupied territories.

Claudia Soga has danced at Alexandra Beller’s Summer Intensive, Gibney Summer Study, and The Institute of Arts Barcelona Summer Intensive. Soga’s new work explores dance theater. She is currently a Dance major at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Mariah Lopez Solonick has choreographed for Artistic Visions Dance Company, FAO Music, Main Street Theater Company, Dance NJ Showcase, Koresh Artistic Showcase, and Todd Rosenlieb Dance Company. She is currently working on a project for the RAW arts organization in Washington, DC. Her piece was inspired by the miscommunications and connections between two beings. Solonick received a degree in Dance Education from Rider University with a focus on Ballet and International Relations.

Jennifer Wrede will present –dentity, which explores the feedback humans unconsciously share with each other and how it affects one’s identity. She is pursuing a BFA in Dance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

General admission tickets for the Alumni Dance Concert cost $12 each, $8 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 908-725-3420. For more information, call 908-218-8876.

Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2018

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #107