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Authentic African clothing and drums featured in dance ensemble this weekend

By Brianna Apodaca

Dance students get to show culture through dance in their pieces in the upcoming dance ensemble show by having costumes and drums specially made in Africa at LBCC on Friday and Saturday.

Long Beach City College President Dr. Mike Munoz has been very supportive of the dance program and funded the dance faculty to travel to Africa this past summer to shop for fabric for costumes and get big drums to use on stage during the show for one of their African pieces.

“The point of that trip and the purpose of us even bringing those things back is authenticity,” full time dance faculty member Martha Pamintuan said.

LBCC dancers strike their end pose for Dominique Moore’s Dance Piece at rehearsal on Oct. 30. The dance ensemble has two upcoming shows on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Brianna Apodaca)

Dance is not just singular to one group of people or style.

The incorporation of  more cultural pieces is very important considering how diverse Long Beach City College’s population is and allowing students to really express themselves and be comfortable doing so.

Students are also able to show their artistic creativity through choreographing pieces with other dancers in the dance department.

Student choreographer Alex Eto Van Duyne’s piece is a modern dance style and it’s about obsession and delusion. The notion is trying to distinguish what is reality and what is in their heads.

Eto Van Duyne is also on the poster for the dance ensemble concert.

“It was a surprise to me and I was really excited about it because how they edited me to have this really dynamic looking background all the artistry was really cool to see,” Eto Van Duynes said about being on the cover for the dance poster.

LBCC dancer Tailer Vance dances in a cultrual piece that’s going to be featured at the dance ensemble. The dance ensemble has two upcoming shows on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Brianna Apodaca)

Throughout the show pieces from all styles like salsa, jazz, hip hop, and more will be shown with two guest choreographers from Contemporary West Dance Theater and a faculty member from UCI.

The culture pieces and the student choreographed pieces will be shown at both showings.

Opening night is Friday at 7 p.m. and there is also an afternoon show on Saturday at 1 p.m and 7 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.lbcc.edu/arts/2023-fall-dance-ensemble-concert. Tickets are priced at $15 for general admission. Tickets cost $10 for students, faculty, staff, and seniors.

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