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Class of 1961 Legacy:
The American Tradition in Performance |
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A Report: Highlights of the 2012-2013 Season
The ongoing and sustaining partnership of The Class of ‘61 Legacy and the
Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts continue to make possible world class events
At Dartmouth. The 2012 –2013 season Legacy events were splendid.
In October, the Hop presented:
- Chick Corea and Gary Burton with the Harlem String Quartet
In a sizzling concert straddling both jazz and classical music, famed pianist Chick Corea joined vibes virtuoso Gary Burton and the genre-defying Harlem String Quartet in Spaulding.
The Hop reports: “The Harlem Quartet visited a local after-school program along with six Dartmouth students who volunteer with the program’s homework club. The younger kids were instantly drawn in by the Quartet’s joyful jokes, and were bouncing on the edge of their seats while the musicians played Mozart (Twinkle Twinkle), Ravel and Duke Ellington.” One student reports:
“I thought they were great! And the kids really liked them because they were funny and played upbeat music. The quartet also engaged the kids in active discussion and answered questions.” Huqui Shi ’15
After Thursday evening’s performance, Gary Burton and the members of the Harlem String Quartet attended a reception at faculty member Susan Brison’s home in the East Wheelock Cluster. Several faculty members and a group of students who had attended the concert were excited to meet the musicians and raved about the performance. Some students were dedicated jazz musicians themselves, while others were just learning about jazz for the first time this term. They asked the quartet about their careers and the many places they have traveled as professional musicians.
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
A major Class of ‘61 Legacy Hop 50th highlight was the March engagement by the world-famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The three, sold-out Moore Theater performances included a Hop-commissioned work, Another Night, by talented emerging choreographer Kyle Abraham. Set to Art Blakey's interpretation ofA Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie, the work was joyful, humorous, and absolutely freeing.
With each night capped by Revelations, the Ailey company once again brought full houses to their feet!
After each performance, two company dancers returned to the stage for audience questions. An added plus was the Montgomery Fellowship invitation that brought Artistic Director Robert Battle to the campus for four days.
At a master class on Saturday afternoon, Rehearsal Director Matthew Rushing put 20 Dartmouth students and a handful of staff and community members through their paces in the Straus Dance Studio. With increasingly complex combinations, Rushing stressed phrasing and articulation and encouraged students to use their full bodies in even the “smallest” movement. He invited individual and small groups of students to demonstrate dance segments, offering critical yet supportive feedback. “You have to think about what you’re doing, about how you’re going into each movement. Don’t let the dance take over.”
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to take class with Matthew Rushing! I am so grateful for the techniques he emphasized and corrections he gave because instead of just being a fun experience, I left with tools that will continue to help me improve in the future. Matthew was so supportive and passionate; participating in the master class was a huge privilege.”
– Carina Conti '16
“Working with Matthew Rushing was a very different but fulfilling experience. He’s an amazing dancer and teacher. For someone like me who’s only started with Hip-Hop dance/choreography one year ago with no contemporary, modern, or ballet background, the class was very intimidating at first. However, Matthew Rushing made me feel welcome, comfortable, and was very encouraging. Taking the class with Matthew Rushing opened by eyes up to another style of dance and helped me appreciate it more. For that, I’m very thankful.”
– George Sy ‘15
The acclaimed Emerson Quartet, closed out The Class of ‘61’s Legacy season. Recipients of an unparalled list of honors including nine Grammy Awards, they filled Spaulding Auditorium on April 4th. A Hop favorite, this was the Quartet’s sixth performance at Dartmouth. The program included a trio of romantic works:Dvorak’s Quartet in D Minor, Schumann’s String Quartet in A Major, andGrieg’s String Quartet in G minor.
Following the performance, the musicians stayed for a generous discussion session with the audience. This was one of the quartet’s final appearances with its founding cellist David Finckel, who will be succeeded by Paul Watkins in May 2013.
The Class of ‘61 Legacy in 2013-14 will be giving important support to the following three performances: banjo virtuosos:
- Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn on October 17th,
- Violinist Joshua Bell on January 18th,
- Bobby McFerrin’s “spirityouall gospel project”
on April 12th.
Gentlemen, our Legacy has done some outstanding work, helping to bring world class artists and their extraordinary work to the HOP.
It seems clear that in its over a decade long support of the the American Traditionof performance at the Hop The Class of ‘61 Legacy has in many ways helped to change the face of Dartmouth.
The Class of “61 Legacy as of 3/31/13. Market Value $976,198.41. Book value 783,415.10. Gifts this year $7,124.78
Congratulations. We should, I think, be very proud.
With thanks and all best wishes,
David Birney
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