Dance Styles

Dawn Cooper Barnes, Howard Community College professor and artistic director of the Aurora Dance Company -- considered one of Howard County's premier dance companies -- is in a bit of a hurry.She is constantly on the go, moving to her own beat. Finding a few minutes to talk to Barnes, 40, is sometimes tricky unless she can schedule it between her many daily appointments, meetings and rehearsals.In addition to her solo dancing career, there are her responsibilities as Aurora's choreographer and her tight schedule at HCC, where she teaches courses on film, dance, English and mass media.

Dawn Cooper Barnes, Howard Community College professor and artistic director of the Aurora Dance Company -- considered one of Howard County's premier dance companies -- is in a bit of a hurry.She is constantly on the go, and finding a few minutes to talk to Barnes, 40, is sometimes tricky unless she can schedule it between her many daily appointments, meetings and rehearsals.In addition to her solo dancing career, there are her responsibilities as Aurora's choreographer and her schedule at HCC, where she teaches courses on film, dance, English and mass media.

I CAN'T BELIEVE you did this again," my sister sighed as she bandaged my thumb. "I thought we had removed all the hot-glue guns from the house."It was all those craft shows, I explained. Everywhere I looked I saw "unique holiday decorations and gift ideas." I figured, how difficult could this be?"Obviously it was difficult enough to cause a second-degree burn," she noted, pulling on a pine cone accidentally glued to my hair."First I think we need to address your obvious lack of talent in this arena," my sister said.

NOTE TO editor(s) and all interested parties: In a cruel twist of perversion, I shall be forced to board a plane and fly to Denver (located uncomfortably close to mountains, I've been told), where I will be subjected to a week of indoctrination by the insurance industry that will most likely make the brainwashing efforts in George Orwell's "1984" look hospitable.I offer this information to allow The Sun the luxury of preparing for my May 15 column, which will either be forwarded early (stop laughing)

Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre is marking its 20th anniversary in a city in which dance companies have a precarious existence. Not only did the concert at the Baltimore Museum of Arts Saturday night attest to Ms. Anderson's perseverance of spirit, but the nearly packed house also confirmed her popularity.The event also served as a ceremony -- as the torch of the company's artistic director was passed from Ms. Anderson to longtime company member Dr. Charles Carter.Featured on this program was Ms. Anderson's "Beginnings," which premiered last spring, plus excerpts from several of her other works.

Beware, watching the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform can give you a high. The company's stirring performances Thursday of two Baltimore premieres and the traditional Ailey favorite, "Revelations," virtually up-lifted the Mechanic Theatre audience to a standing ovation.The opening-night performance overflowed with outstanding virtuosity and craftsmanship that was coupled with the company's inherent message that dance is good for the soul.Garth Fagan's "Jukebox for Alvin" opened the program of three dances.

The Columbia Festival of the Arts audience attending Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre's concert had more than just dance for excitement last night.A false fire alarm at Howard Community College's Smith Theatre broke the concentration of the audience but not of Ms. Anderson's talented company, which continued the opening number despite the persistent buzzer.Ms. Anderson bills her concerts as being in the African-American tradition, incorporating the five elements she says are necessary -- words, music, dance, spirituality and audience participating.

Garth Fagan was speaking of "chicken and fish."No, the choreographer wasn't discussing food, but the recipe for his eponymous troupe's distinctive dance style."