THEATER ARTS FOR ALL: VISIONARY DANCE THEATRE

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By Ariele Johannson

September 18, 2015 (La Mesa)--You might be surprised how much some kids love Broadway! Recently, several teenagers from Visionary Dance Theatre showed off their love of singing Broadway hits for the supporters and staff of East County Magazine, with solo performances and a coed dance duet.

Guests at both of our summer fundraisers got a taste of theater from these talented young people. With their Smart phones cued up to their song and the sound plugged into the sound system, both boys and girls delivered amazing solos of their own Broadway favorites.

 One boy/girl team did a pantomimed dance number portraying the shy coming together and ultimate heartbreak of a tender new romance. Using only one prop, they were able to transport viewers, as they creatively utilized space and each other to act and dance. In the end, they united.

Visionary Dance Theatre enriches communities by getting kids—and sometimes even their parents—into the act. The non-profit organization just celebrated their fifth anniversary, remaining true to their mission of diversity, cutting-edge dance, and open mind and spirit.

Driven by the vision of Artistic Director Spencer Powell, Visionary Dance Theater strives to enrich the community and its own company members through the shared experience of dance, theatre, and art. The organization includes divisions for the following: performing arts, musical theater, dance theater, community theater, and youth theater. Included in this vision is the belief that dance is for everyone. VDT brings together dancers and performers of all skill levels to create an environment of shared passion, growth, and opportunity for all of its members.

Mickey Mounarath, Business Director and Co-Producer, is instrumental in creating opportunities for a diverse range of students to explore theater arts and to hone their skills. Mickey co-produces all dance concert productions and occasionally participates as a dancer. Mounarath has also produced or co-produced numerous dance productions and artists within the San Diego area, including the Choreographer’s Showcase series. For Visionary School for the Performing Arts, Mickey has co-produced all recitals and musical theatre productions.

Visionary School for the Performing Arts offers classes for all ages and skill levels for dance, voice, and acting. Their office in East County is in La Mesa at 7202A El Cajon Blvd, CA, 92115. The classes at Visionary are taught by four teachers, including Spencer Powell, who is an award-winning actor and choreographer with 26 years of teaching experience. The youngest age for classes is four years old. Multi-class and family discounts are available.

Besides providing an outlet for their creativity, Visionary is set up to allow students to gain experience. They provide many different kinds of performances for which students can audition. These include musicals, dance concerts, and plays.

The Broadway hit Hairspray is the current production for their 5th Anniversary Season. The musical includes kids and their parent(s) who have withstood the rigors of rehearsing together. Performances for Hairspray began on September 11-12, and are also scheduled for 7 p.m., September 18-19, 2015 at Point Loma High School Performing Arts Center at 2335 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego, CA.

The cast includes Matthew Anderson as Wilbur Turnblad and Spencer Powell as Edna Turnblad. The production is directed by Spencer Powell. A review of this exciting production is available on our website.

Previous plays or musicals recently produced by Visionary Dance Theatre and Visionary Community Theater include Tres, A New Girl Group produced by Mounarath-Powell Productions in August; Pop Rock, a musical review featuring Pop and Rock hits in July; and Geisha Boy in June of 2015

Kaleidoscope is the next performance presented by Bottled Light Dance Theatre, scheduled for October 23-24, 2015 at Kwai Sun Studio, 8380 Center Drive, Suite C in La Mesa. Presale ticket pricing begins on October 18, 2015 at $10, with regular ticket pricing after October 18 at $15 for general admission.

Details about Visionary Dance Theatre, classes and performances can be found on their website at www.VisionaryDanceTheatre.org.

 

Contact Info: Phone: 619-758-8112

Email: info@VisionaryDanceTheatre.org.

 

 


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