The Citadel Dance Companies will host this concert at The Citadel Dance building at 91 Hinkley Street. Featuring works by faculty members and company directors. 2:30 and 5:00 performances. Tickets available starting in September.

The 2024 production, “Raconteur” will be a collection of classic stories as you know them, and a little bit not. Choreographers Paige Mulick, Kim Barber, Tara Hennig, and Lari Lawrence-Gist, make use of classic characters and stories to spin a tale of their own. In “Red”, Mulick will utilize imagery from a number of different stories to investigate the meaning of the color. In “Poppins”, Barber will explore the use of imagery from the classic story to portray its essence through dance. Hennig will re-stage a work by Gregory Hancock entitled, “Once Upon a Time” that shows another side of the classic fairytale princes and princesses. In “Wanderers and Wonderers”, Lawrence-Gist will follow a group of young storytellers as they invent, play, get lost, and re-find their way (or not), on the river of time that is life as we all know and experience it.

Tickets available May 8th here https://citadeldancemusic.ludus.com/

The Gala is an annual celebration of our Intensive Students. Companies perform works from guest artists and company directors, and student choreography is also featured. The companies partner with the Conservatory of Dance (Granger, IN) to present this concert at Lake Michigan College.

The Gala will be held this year in the Grand Upton Ballroom. For tickets, please call 269-925-9440 or email Lari at Lgist@citadeldmc.org

This concert will feature all three Citadel Dance Companies, The Aurinko Ballet Company, and CPR Inhale Movement

“A Steamed Nutcracker” is an original ballet created by Lari Lawrence-Gist that puts a steampunk spin on a holiday tradition. The story of Sansa is told set to the score of “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky, which is played live by a professional orchestra. This production takes place on the Mendel Main Stage at Lake Michigan College and is staged every other year in rotation with “The Citadel Spectacular”.

Two Performances! Matinee 2pm and Evening 7pm
Sansa’s Tea Party will be held from 12:30-1:30 at the Mendel Center. Tea Party includes punch and cookies, photo opportunities with the cast, fortune telling with The Seer, and a backstage tour! All ages welcome. Admission included with a matinee ticket. Suggested donation $5

Synopsis
It is Christmas Eve. Sansa hosts a party in her grounded zeppelin, and her sister, Fiametta, helps finish decorating. The Seer arrives and greets the girls with warmth and excitement. She “offers” to provide fortune telling for all the guests for the night. Fiametta is very excited, but Sansa tries to object. The Seer will not take no for an answer. Sansa’s best friend, Cora, arrives with a special gift. As the girls prepare to play a game of “battle” with their new toy soldiers, Lawton enters and The Seer begins to have a premonition.

As guests arrive, the two friends are both immediately drawn to Lawton; tension builds. The Seer continues to tell fortunes with her orb. When she reads Cora’s future, a dark prophesy is forseen. Cora doesn’t understand what she has seen and becomes defensive. Sansa, who hasn’t seen the prophesy, defends her friend and refuses to look into the orb. The Seer shows Fiametta instead, and she attacks Cora. Sansa stands in solidarity with her friend. Despite the drama, the party continues, but Cora realizes the attachment growing between Sansa and Lawton. In a fit of confused rage and jealousy, she storms off.

The party continues as Sansa and Lawton fall in love. Fiametta and The Seer try to refocus Sansa’s attention with The Seer’s clock, but Fiametta’s game gets out of hand and it breaks. Lawton distracts her once again and she forgets all about the Seer, and unfortunately, Cora. The Seer tries one more time to get Sansa to see the danger she is in, but Sansa is lost in the daze of new love. The party ends and guests depart. Sansa drifts blissfully to sleep, but The Seer finds a way to haunt her dreams.

The Seer’s birds sound the alarm when Cora, who has come back to have it out with Sansa, breaks in in the middle of the night. Her efforts are broken up by The Seer, and she sends her away. Cora flees, and The Seer begins to enchant the zeppelin to protect Sansa. Sansa, not realizing the real danger she is in, follows The Seer out. The Seer sets the zeppelin off to fly thinking Sansa is safely inside, and surrounds it with an army of Cyborgs. Cora reappears to attack Sansa, and Lawton appears to defend her. Despite all her efforts, The Seer’s prophesy is fulfilled.

The Seer is tortured by her gift of sight. She wants to protect Sansa, but sees now that her actions cannot change the future. She must send Sansa away, but how can she make her listen? Is a small deception worth it in the end if Sansa believes it and moves toward her future with no fear of being visited by The Seer again?

Trick-or-Treat in the Arts District 4:30-6:00
Pumpkin Carving Contest, Costume Contest, 4:30-7:00

The relationship between Dance & Music is one of the most harmonious and reciprocal in our lives. We celebrate this partnership in this performance hosted by the Citadel Dance Companies. Companies will perform current repertoire by directors, Lari Lawrence-Gist, Kimberly Barber, and Paige Mulick.

Two performances and dessert receptions. 5:00 and 7:00. $8

Join us for our annual fundraiser! The Grand Upton Ballroom at Lake Michigan College is transformed as the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band wails away, Andrew Fisher and Becky Selvidge croon, and the Citadel Dance Companies dazzle. The coolest jazz club, the best music and dance, and a chance to step back to the jazz age for just one night. Come as you are, or dress for the time. Enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres, step out onto the dance floor with your date, or just sit and soak it all in.

The Citadel Dance & Music Center is a 501c3 non profit organization. We rely on donations, grants, and sponsors to help support our programming. We strive to inspire a sense of excitement and curiosity and to instill the the disciplines of Dance & Music as art forms and a way of life. We thank you for your support!