PRESS RELEASE: 2nd Sight Dance Company Debuts May 15, 2015 at Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival

2^nd Sight Dance Company Debuts May 15, 2015 at Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival

New Orlando-based dance troupe blends contemporary dance with theatrical illusions

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 13, 2015) – Orlando’s newest professional dance company, 2nd Sight Dance Company, is debuting at the 2015 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival with its original production SHADOWS & LIGHT. This family-friendly production blending the best of dance and magic will feature four performances: May 15, 17, 21 and 24.

Created by G. Edward Owens, 2nd Sight Dance Company is a dance company that features dancers from Central Florida. With its local artists, it hopes to further enrich the Orlando arts community and bring awareness to the art of dance. Unlike other dance groups, 2^nd Sight Dance seamlessly blends the art of contemporary dance with traditional, yet mind-boggling, visual effects found in the magic world’s greatest illusions to provide audiences with a fresh perspective. One of the pieces features a dancer who must escape from the confines of a straightjacket as she fluidly moves through the choreography.

“SHADOWS & LIGHT is different from any dance performance or typical magic show anyone has ever seen before,” said G. Edward Owens, founder, choreographer and artistic director of 2^nd Sight Dance Company. “I want our audiences to leave with a sense of wonder after witnessing an amazing dance performance filled with entertaining acts of illusion.”

Dancers and founding members for 2nd Sight Dance Company include: Miranda Bengtson, Mai Claypool, Kirsten Johnson, Chelsea Lester, Apollonia Lysandrou, Joseph J. Nuñez, Brittany Rollins, Sarah Serrano and Alexis Zimmerman. The SHADOWS & LIGHT production team includes G. Edward Owens (choreographer), Victoria R. Kroll (rehearsal director) and Matt Tamanini (lighting designer).

2^nd Sight Dance Company will perform on the following dates:

•  Friday, May 15 at 7:45 p.m.
•  Sunday, May 17 at 1:15 p.m.
• Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale at OrlandoFringe.org. Pricing is set at $10 per ticket plus the cost of the Orlando Fringe Festival Button ($9). A Fringe button is required to enter any Fringe show within any venue for anyone 13 years and older. The button is a one-time purchase. Button proceeds go to support Orlando Fringe. Buttons can be purchased at all of the Fringe Box Offices, Fringe Merchandise Booths located on the Lawn and inside the upper lobby of the Lowndes Shakespeare Center during the operating hours of the festival.

For more information, visit 2ndsightdance.com. Stay connected by following the company’s Facebook page.

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Images and B-roll

Photo credit: Miles Bresin/KBAM Photography and Kimberly Moy/2^nd Sight Dance

ABOUT 2^ND SIGHT DANCE COMPANY

Founded in 2014 by Artistic Director G. Edward Owens in Orlando, Fla., 2nd Sight Dance Company is dedicated to producing innovative and original dance compositions. Owens’ choreography uses dance as a medium for communication that evokes emotion and speaks to audiences of all backgrounds. More than just a performance, 2nd Sight Dance Company performances are an interactive experience.

 2nd Sight Dance blends traditional dance (ballet, contemporary, modern) with the theatrical wonder and mystery of illusion. The choreography thrives on audiences with open minds who are not afraid of connecting through direct participation. 2nd Sight Dance Company strives to change the paradigms of how dance and magic are viewed in today's culture. www.2ndSightDance.com.

For more information, please contact:

Kimberly Moy

Marketing Manager

2ndSightDance@gmail.com

 

Rehearsal Notes with Victoria Kroll

by Victoria Kroll - Rehearsal Director 

A few months after meeting Glynn, he asked to meet up one evening to discuss a concept he had for a dance company.  As soon as he mentioned he was a magician, I wanted to see something disappear!  Then I focused and realized what an amazing idea this was, to take different types of performance art and blend it into one.  First thing we had to do was find a time and place to perform.  Luckily Kim had already begun researching and we agreed the Orlando Fringe Festival was a great venue for our premier performance.  Luck was on our side - we were chosen at random, and got our first choice in venue!

Then we had the task of finding dancers, and this was right around the holidays.  We decided to hold auditions and we went right to work posting it all over Facebook and inviting every dancer we knew.  I posted the audition notice on a few dance websites I follow.  The main concern was, of course, that no one would show up.  We were quite surprised and excited with the turnout we had!  I knew then, that people believed in Glynn’s vision as much as I did.  After the audition, several people contacted us that they were unable to make it, but were very interested in dancing with us.  Glynn held a few private auditions and our company was formed!  We were so fortunate to find such talented, dedicated, and flexible (both physically and mentally!) dancers to work with us for this performance…I don’t think the pieces would have the same effect with just Glynn and me performing.  Each dancer is so different, from their movement quality to their personality.  We have had a lot of laughs during this rehearsal process.

Rehearsals started a bit slow, as each dancer began to learn the style of Glynn’s choreography and Glynn learning how each dancer learns.  The tricky part about this was not only did our company have to learn choreography, they also had to learn illusions.  Glynn started with the movement, as this would come easier to the dancers.  After spending about 2 rehearsals on a piece, the magic element was added.  I have to admit “Lost in Light” is my favorite piece, while not technically the most challenging, it has a strong message that I believe we can all relate to.

Things suddenly took off and we have a full show ready!  Now here we are, one week from the Fringe Preview and I am extremely happy with how the pieces are really starting to come together.  It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been an amazing experience so far.

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Victoria R. Kroll received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from DeSales University (Center Valley, PA). She was the Dance Captain for the Premier Theatre Company in Lincroft, NJ before reloacting to Florida to become a Performer for Walt Disney World. She appeared in many filmings, including the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade with Mariah Carey. Victoria was a ballet/pointe student of former Joffrey Principal, Trinette Singleton, and has studied with choreographers Savion Glover, Mia Michaels, and Tyce Diorio. An award winning choreographer, Victoria has taught all styles of dance to children through adult students throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida.Victoria is a member, by exam, of Florida Dance Masters, Inc.

Click here to learn more about SHADOWS & LIGHT!