Dance festival features original choreography

"We're thrilled to continue this collaborative effort with the Rochester Opera House to bring contemporary dance to the community," explained Sole City's executive director, Christine Hounsell. "After producing the classicalNutcracker ballet in December, we look forward to sharing a variety of dance styles & moods by bringing together some of the best dancers from the seacoast and beyond.

Guest artists will join student and adult ensembles from several dance education programs to present original choreography on Saturday at 7 p.m. An earlier 2:00 pm show will feature younger dancers and works by up-and-coming student choreographers. Guest artists at the evening performance will include UNH faculty member Assaf Benchetrit and Meghan McCoy Seedner, recently guests in theNutcracker, as well as Neoteric Dance Collaborative, and Annex Contemporary Dance.

On Sunday, master classes will be held at the Sole City Dance studios beginning at 9:00 am and continue throughout the day. Accomplished dancers from Boston and Portland along with faculty from Plymouth State University will teach classes in diverse styles to challenge the students' versatility and technical abilities. Instructors includeSasha Yapparov, ballet; Kelly Kaleta, tap; Xavier Hernandez, breakdancing; Amanda Whitworth, contemporary; and Nikki Sell, musical theater.

The public is invited to all festival events. Performance tickets are available from the Rochester Opera House.

For more info on Sole City call 603-750-7777