Company members from the Noretta Dunworth School of Dance competition group are all smiles after their success June 27 in the Best of the Best competition in Chicago at the Applause Talent Competition.
By Sue Suchyta
Henry Ford Community College is now offering four classes in the Virtual Theatricality Lab which lead to a Motion Capture Certificate, and teach the skills needed to be a motion capture technician.
Major motion pictures like “Lord of the Rings,” “Beowulf” and “Polar Express” are among the recent movie releases showcasing the technology.
HFCC’s virtual theatricality lab offers a 12-credit course sequence that teaches the skill sets needed for the film and animation industry.
The first course, Art 209 Maya, teaches the fundamentals of 3D art and graphics needed to understand and master a motion capture pipeline.
The second course, STH 262, introduces students to the elements of motion capture, while the third course, STH 263, gives students experience in facial motion capture.
The fourth and final course, STH 264, has the student create a motion capture project to showcase the skills they learned in a demo reel.
The courses are taught using a Vicon Optical Motion Capture System, Blade, and Motion Builder Software.
Two introductory motion capture classes will be offered, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.
The college will also offer STH 235-02, a course in green screen production for the stage and screen, and STH 235-01, film acting.
For more information go to www.hfccvtl.org.
LOCAL DANCERS DO WELL IN NATIONAL FINALS
The competition dance group from Dearborn’s Noretta Dunworth School of Dance competed in the final “Best of the Best” Applause Talent National Competition in Chicago on June 27 and did well in the respective age competitions.
In the youngest dancer category – the Petite (or mini) age group, for ages 8 and under, Lauren Yakima took first place for her lyrical dance solo, “Somewhere, Over the Rainbow.”
The petite jazz duet “Jump” with Jack Audi and Natasha Pomponio performed in the Best of the Best, as did the petite large recreational jazz group “Shake It” and the petite large hip hop group “Calendar Girls.”
In the Junior category – ages 9 to 11 — Ashlyn Kelly and Celine Abadallah took first place for their contemporary duet, “Statues.” Sara Sibole took first place for her solo, “Bolero,” in the open category.
The junior modern small group entry, “Wanting Memories” took third place. The junior jazz line, “My Boyfriend’s Back” also competed in the Best of the Best.
In the Teen category, ages 12 to 14, Andrea Bess received a fifth place award for her tap solo “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The large jazz group “That’s It, I Quit” also was showcased in the Best of the Best closing performance.
In the Senior category, ages 15 and up, the modern small group “The Dance” took first place by a 10th of a point over modern large group “The Hunt.” The musical theater small group “Let Me Entertain You” took fourth place.
The Modern trio “Waiting for Him” took fifth in the senior duo-trio category. It featured dancers Ashley O’Connell (Divine Child High School), Allie Steele (Dearborn High School) and Amy Yakima (Northville High School).
DJ Folk’s self-choreographed, innovative tap solo “Please Don’t Go Away” took fourth place. Folk commutes from Ypsilanti to compete at Noretta Dunworth School of Dance.
Taking third place for their lyrical duet “Make Me Feel Your Love” were Yakima and Nicholas Field (a recent DHS graduate).
First place solo honors went to Yakima for her open category solo, “Hypnotic.”
The studio winnings are in part reinvested in guest choreographers to keep the group numbers competitive, unique and challenging from a choreography standpoint.
Additional and equally strong competition choreography is created by director Loni Lane Pasdesky as well as occasionally by instructors Tracy Kielb and Sarah Leonard.
Five-day Fuzion Dance Camp Scholarships in Chicago were awarded to Kennedy Tidwell and Olivia Liberati.
Five-day Chicago Inaside Summer Intensive Dance Camp scholarships were awarded to Nicholas Field and Natalie Cantalino.
For more scores and information, go to www.applausetalent.com.
Congratulations to the hardworking kids from the Dearborn and Downriver area for all their hard work.