Fall Arts Celebration brings the Spanish tradition in dance and music

A rambunctious, comedic evening of seduction and mishap told through the dramatic exuberance of flamenco music and song, pantomime and dance is next up during Fall Arts Celebration at Grand Valley.

“The Spanish Tradition: Manuel de Falla, El corregidor y la molinera,” will be performed Monday, October 24, at 8 p.m., in Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus. Performance and afterglow reception are free and open to the public.

De Falla did much to forge a new national musical idiom that revitalized Spanish music and propelled flamenco to international attention. His ballet “El corregidor y la molinera,” which is best translated as “The Magistrate and the Miller’s Wife,” has rarely been performed outside of the composer’s native Spain, and only twice in the U.S. since its 1917 premier in Madrid.

Grand Valley dance faculty members and students, assisted by guest artists, with music performed by music faculty members and students, will present a brilliant new choreographic interpretation of De Falla’s ballet by dance faculty member Shawn T Bible.

“Flamenco was traditionally done as a solo dancer responding in a spontaneous way to a local musician, usually playing on a guitar, and it was all very improvisational,” said Bible. “Though this performance is staged, we’ve kept the feeling of spontaneity in both the music and dance.”
   
The costumes are also a modern interpretation. Bible says they have maintained traditional elements, including sexy bodices and full ruffled skirts for playful movement, but he selected bright modern colors to add even more visual excitement to this unique performance.

Fall Arts Celebration is made possible, in part, through the generosity of sponsors including, Ginny Gearhart and the Gearhart Family, Liesel and Hank Meijer, Elaine and Larry Shay, Judy and Peter Theune and WOOD Radio. For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/fallarts, or call (616) 331-2180.