Diverse dancing: Great Leaps takes stage at UH-Hilo

The University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College dance programs present the end of semester Great Leaps dance concert tonight and Saturday night at the campus Performing Arts Center.

Showtimes for today’s preview performance and Saturday’s concert are 7:30 p.m.

More than 150 dancers will perform 12 original works. Sarah Dunaway’s performing arts senior project, “Mended,” will mark her seventh appearance at Great Leaps. Kea Kapahua’s jazz class will dance to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and Na Wahine Mano Dance Team featuring UH-Hilo performing arts students and graduates will perform a number set to “oldies but goodies” pop music.

Dance ensemble students will present three works created by guest choreographers. Dori Yamada’s piece celebrates years of friendship with a departing dancer; Nadia Schlosser’s dance explores overcoming the darkness of pain; and visiting Korean scholar Jeongha Kim demonstrates the wartime resilience of the Korean people.

Kea Kapahua and Krisha Zane will perform a dance choreographed by Trina Nahm-Mijo titled “Kahuwai,” which honors a historic beachfront village near the easternmost point of Kumukahi that disappeared in the 1800s.

The concert also will include Celeste Staton’s ballet piece performed to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” along with fellow instructor Annie Bunker’s aerial and modern stylings danced to the music of Pink Floyd.

Both events are open seating with tickets for tonight’s preview priced at $3. Tickets for Saturday’s concert are $7 general and $5 discount, students with valid ID and children ages 17 and younger.

For more information or to order tickets, contact the UH Hilo Box Office at 932-7490 or artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu.