These are family shows with a variety of choreographical styles. Each performance lasts about twenty minutes.
West Virginia Dance Company from Beckley is West Virginia’s only professional touring dance company in the history of the state. It was founded in 1977 with the purpose of enriching lives through the art of dance. The performances are a blend of entertaining and thought-provoking modern compositions that invoke enthusiasm in audiences of all ages. The members are highly trained professionals from all over the country. Many are not West Virginians by birth but refer to themselves as such because of their love of the state and in its people. Included are works influenced by our state’s rich cultural heritage. The main focus of the group is performing public concerts and to educate children and people of all ages in West Virginia and beyond. Toneta Akers-Toler, the company founder, is an accomplished dancer/choreographer who has shared her talents with our state for almost 30 years. A graduate in dance from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, she has been honored as the 2003 Governor’s Art Award recipient for Artistic Excellence, the 1989 West Virginia Woman of the Year in Arts and received a Monticello Scholarship for choreography from the National Association of Regional Ballet. She has taught workshops throughout West Virginia and in 13 other states and Brazil and most recently was the guest choreographer for the dance department at James Madison University. She also choreographs for Theatre West Virginia productions including Honey in the Rock, Hatfield’s and McCoys. The company is presently co-directed by Ms. Akers-Toler and Donald Laney. Donald Laney graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with an MFA in Dance. He has performed with the West Virginia Dance Company, Hooligan & Dancers (Miami, Florida), Randy James Dance Works (NYC) and X-Factor (North Carolina) among other companies. While attending UCI his choreography was chosen to represent the University at ACDFA in 2003 and 2004. Donald’s work with Lisa Naugle and John Crawford has produced 3 dance videos that have been presented at Lincoln Center and in dance videoconferences in Yugoslavia, Japan, New Jersey, Michigan, Arizona, and at ADF in Durham, NC. He is also a free-lance artist in teaching, choreographing and costume design and construction. The WV DANCE COMPANY, Charleston Ballet, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lees-McRae College, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, NC Stage Ensemble etc have presented his choreography. He has been a guest instructor in modern dance at James Madison University and is the WV Governor’s School instructor in dance.
Cost: Free
Links: www.wvdanceco.com