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Department of Theatre and Dance

Snowy Range Dance Festival Final Concert Saturday

July 25, 2002 -- Teachers and students of the Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival will perform Saturday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for others. For additional concert information or to buy tickets call (307) 766-6666.

The dance instructors are Tony Coppola, Jay Franke and John Pennington; with students in repertoire by Cameron Basden, Peter Pucci, Coppola, Frank and Pennington.

"This is one of the most exciting and well attended concerts," says festival coordinator Patricia Tate, professor in the UW Department of Theatre and Dance. "It features faculty solo and advanced students chosen for repertoire pieces." This concert concludes the 11-day dance workshop.

Among the instructors is Tony Coppola; the festival's tap/rhythm instructor. Coppola has long-standing national recognition as an all-America gymnast, master teacher, tap dancer and professional percussionist. He has staged and choreographed the Superstars of Gymnastics for USA TV Network, John Tesh "Live at Red Rocks" for PBS, "The Mystery and Magic of Nadia Comaneci" for ABC Wide World of Sports, and the World Gold Gymnastics Tour.

Instructor Jay Franke has danced with Twyla Tharp, Hubbard Street Dancers in Chicago and the 58 Group. He teaches jazz at Lou Conte Dance School (Hubbard Street Dancers) and freelances as a guest choreographer in Chicago, New York and throughout the world. He has performed in numerous productions for Opryland USA.

John Pennington performed the Lewitzky Dance Company for 14 years. He has taught technique, improvisation, composition and movement for actors throughout the United States and Europe. He now teaches at Pomona College and Loyola Marymount University in California.

Peter Pucci was a member of the Pilobolus Dance Theatre for nine years, where he served as a principal dancer, co-choreographer and rehearsal director. Since 1986, he has directed and choreographed for his own company, Peter Pucci Plus Dancers. The company performs annually in New York City, including five appearances at the Joyce Theatre, and tours throughout the United States and Europe.

Posted on Thursday, July 25, 2002

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