Eva Anderson

Eva Anderson's company keeps on dancing, year after year for 21 seasons now, with a blend of modern and African-American style that keeps its work fresh.At the Baltimore Museum of Art this weekend, it will offer three new works: "Deep Blues," to music of Don Pullen; "Sister Sadie and Brother Andrew," to a score by Horace Silver and Max Roach; and "Sketches of Spain," to music of Miles Davis. Anderson also has revived "The Elephant," a portrait of a pachyderm.Eva Anderson Dancers will perform at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the BMA, 10 Art Museum Drive.

Eva Anderson watches her own image appear on the television monitor in the kitchen of her Columbia home - the powerful energy of the dance caught in her figure straining under a taut cloth, like a swan snared in a net. "I like cloth," she says. "I like Spandex especially because it can do things. It can dance almost by itself, if you manipulate it right." Anderson is previewing the documentary Chronicles of a Dancer: How We Became Artists, a video retrospective of the 32 seasons of the Eva Anderson Dancers, which will premiere today at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Anderson, who has always been a creative, inventive choreographer, has been a wizard at keeping a professional dance company afloat for three decades in Maryland.

Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre gave its all Saturday night at Howard Community College. Despite the small audience, the seven-member troupe, plus two former company members, deftly performed Ms. Anderson's five distinct and stylistically differing works.From the stark modernism of "Chess Game," to the African-influenced movements in "Ceremony," the comedic pantomime of "Br'er Rabbit" and the ballet-inspired figures of the opening work, "Debutante Slouch," Ms. Anderson's versatile company was technically comfortable in a variety of styles.

Skill and creativity have helped Eva Anderson Dancers Ltd. grow into a well-known and respected modern dance group in the Baltimore-Washington region. But supporters say persistence has been just as important, as the company begins its 30th season. "I just kept doing it," said Anderson, a Columbia choreographer who has been the creative and administrative force behind the company for three decades. "It seems like artists that are successful are those that didn't quit." The Eva Anderson Dancers - the oldest professional modern dance company in Maryland - will celebrate its milestone with performances at Baltimore Museum of Art on Saturday and Sunday.

Why tamper with the tried and true? This year's Scott Joplin Festival, like its predecessors, split its program with music in the first half and dances in the second and ended with the traditional "Cake Walk March."The seventh festival, presented by Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre yesterday at Howard Community College, opened with two strong musical works by pianist and composer David Alan Bunn and his accompanying quintet. The group Rude Kulcha rounded out the musical offerings.Mr.

The music is throbbing, and Eva Anderson is hard at work. While a group of dancers glides to Latin rhythms across a rehearsal room floor at the Howard County Center for the Arts, Anderson watches intently for any missed beat or flubbed step. "One-two-three-four, five-six-seven-eight," Anderson murmurs to herself as she taps one tennis shoe-clad foot. "Yes, yes, that's it." For more than 25 years, Anderson has commanded the Eva Anderson Dancers Ltd., a company that has become almost synonymous with African American dance in the region.

Northfield Elementary School and Elkridge Landing Middle School recently established educational partnerships with four local businesses.Northfield Elementary signed partnerships Nov. 6 with Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Dorsey Hall Garden Club and McDonald's of Route 40 West. Elkridge Landing Middle agreed to work with Eva Anderson Dancers in an agreement signed Nov. 9.In Northfield's partnership with the veterinary clinic, Dr. Mary Beth Soverns -- who also is a parent at the school -- will teach students about the proper care and training of pets.

Eva Anderson watches her own image appear on the television monitor in the kitchen of her Columbia home - the powerful energy of the dance caught in her figure straining under a taut cloth, like a swan snared in a net. "I like cloth," she says. "I like Spandex especially because it can do things. It can dance almost by itself, if you manipulate it right." Anderson is previewing the documentary Chronicles of a Dancer: How We Became Artists, a video retrospective of the 32 seasons of the Eva Anderson Dancers, which will premiere today at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Anderson, who has always been a creative, inventive choreographer, has been a wizard at keeping a professional dance company afloat for three decades in Maryland.

Skill and creativity have helped Eva Anderson Dancers Ltd. grow into a well-known and respected modern dance group in the Baltimore-Washington region. But supporters say persistence has been just as important, as the company begins its 30th season. "I just kept doing it," said Anderson, a Columbia choreographer who has been the creative and administrative force behind the company for three decades. "It seems like artists that are successful are those that didn't quit." The Eva Anderson Dancers - the oldest professional modern dance company in Maryland - will celebrate its milestone with performances at Baltimore Museum of Art on Saturday and Sunday.

Auditions tend to inspire their own category of tired cliches. The proverbial lump in the throat. The butterflies dancing in the stomach. The knock-knock-knocking of the knees.The problem with cliches is that they're often true, and if you're the one auditioning for a play, an orchestra or a dance company, the platitudes begin to pile up fast.`Try to have fun'Eva Anderson, founder of Eva Anderson Dancers LTD in Columbia, says auditions are like little tests. Can you project an emotion or a feeling?

The music is throbbing, and Eva Anderson is hard at work. While a group of dancers glides to Latin rhythms across a rehearsal room floor at the Howard County Center for the Arts, Anderson watches intently for any missed beat or flubbed step. "One-two-three-four, five-six-seven-eight," Anderson murmurs to herself as she taps one tennis shoe-clad foot. "Yes, yes, that's it." For more than 25 years, Anderson has commanded the Eva Anderson Dancers Ltd., a company that has become almost synonymous with African American dance in the region.

Auditions tend to inspire their own category of tired cliches. The proverbial lump in the throat. The butterflies dancing in the stomach. The knock-knock-knocking of the knees.The problem with cliches is that they're often true, and if you're the one auditioning for a play, an orchestra or a dance company, the platitudes begin to pile up fast.`Try to have fun'Eva Anderson, founder of Eva Anderson Dancers LTD in Columbia, says auditions are like little tests. Can you project an emotion or a feeling?

Eva Anderson's company keeps on dancing, year after year for 21 seasons now, with a blend of modern and African-American style that keeps its work fresh.At the Baltimore Museum of Art this weekend, it will offer three new works: "Deep Blues," to music of Don Pullen; "Sister Sadie and Brother Andrew," to a score by Horace Silver and Max Roach; and "Sketches of Spain," to music of Miles Davis. Anderson also has revived "The Elephant," a portrait of a pachyderm.Eva Anderson Dancers will perform at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the BMA, 10 Art Museum Drive.

HOWARD HIGH School Principal Mary Day is proud of the school's "It's Academic" team, which trampled its competitors -- Atholton and Urbana high schools -- at Channel 13's taping of the television program Feb. 14.Congratulations to team members Chris Lay, Elizabeth Chester and Meredith Ward and to the team's coach, John Gilbert.The segment of "It's Academic" will air at 11 a.m. March 14 on Channel 13.In another contest of minds, Mayfield Woods Middle School students competed in the Middle School Academic Tournament held at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore Feb. 7.Mayfield entered five four-student teams to compete in five rounds of the contest.

Northfield Elementary School and Elkridge Landing Middle School recently established educational partnerships with four local businesses.Northfield Elementary signed partnerships Nov. 6 with Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Dorsey Hall Garden Club and McDonald's of Route 40 West. Elkridge Landing Middle agreed to work with Eva Anderson Dancers in an agreement signed Nov. 9.In Northfield's partnership with the veterinary clinic, Dr. Mary Beth Soverns -- who also is a parent at the school -- will teach students about the proper care and training of pets.

Dancer Eva Anderson and educator Gene Miller will receive 1992 Howie Awards for their artistic contributions from the Howard County Arts Council.Ms. Anderson, who was chosen as outstanding artist, is artistic director and founder of Eva Anderson Dancers. Mr. Miller, the former supervisor of music for Howard County public schools, will receive the arts educator award.The Columbia Association will also receive an award for helping to establish the Columbia Festival of the Arts, the Columbia Arts Center and other arts-supporting activities.

Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre will take to the Alumni Hall stage at Western Maryland College at 2 p.m. Sunday.The performance is part of Western Maryland's Black History Celebration 1991, whichruns throughout February in recognition of Black History Month.Anderson, who has been artistic director of the company since 1978, teaches modern and African dance to company members, and apprentices and choreographs many of the works in the company's repertoire.For its debut Sundays of Note appearance, The Baltimore Dance Theatre is scheduled to perform, among other works, "The Elephant," a prize-winning work originally commissioned for the National Zoo when it unveiled its elephant pavilion, and the hilarious comic "Br'er Rabbit,"which was commissioned by and premiered for the Atlanta Arts Festival.

Jazz pianist and composer Don Pullen and dancer and choreographer Eva Anderson first performed together 30 years ago when they were students at North Carolina's Johnson C. Smith University."

When the Howard County Arts Council announced th winners of its 1992 Howie Awards earlier this month, it only validated the base requirement that those chosen must demonstrate an enduring commitment to the arts.Dance company founder Eva Anderson, educator Gene Miller and the Columbia Association are this year's winners in the categories of outstanding artist, arts educator and business supporter of the arts. Previous Howie award winners include Toby Orenstein and the Rouse Co."It's meant to recognize a long-term achievement in the arts," said Howard County Arts Council Executive Director Mary Toth.

Why tamper with the tried and true? This year's Scott Joplin Festival, like its predecessors, split its program with music in the first half and dances in the second and ended with the traditional "Cake Walk March."The seventh festival, presented by Eva Anderson's Baltimore Dance Theatre yesterday at Howard Community College, opened with two strong musical works by pianist and composer David Alan Bunn and his accompanying quintet. The group Rude Kulcha rounded out the musical offerings.Mr.