Dance Education and Performance at the Thrasher-Horne Center

David Parsons, Courtesy of Parsons Dance

A lot of dancing takes place on the main stage at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Some of our most popular events in the past year have revolved around dance. And in our upcoming season, the Thrasher-Horne Center is welcoming an exciting new partnership with Parsons Dance, a modern dance company based in New York City. The company was founded in 1985 by artistic director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley. Parsons Dance is well known for its high energy performances of contemporary American dance. The company performs residency/community outreach activities across the country and around the world every year. They have conducted extensive statewide residencies and outreach in Florida, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Kansas City among others.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is working with Parsons Dance on an outreach program which will include Student Matinee Performances (shortened performances with incorporated audience participation for students K-12 to attend during the school day), Lecture Demonstrations (featuring excerpts from Parsons’ Dance diverse repertory, such as The Envelope, Sleep Study, Class Act, Caught, and Nascimento, while explaining various aspects of production), and Masterclasses (taught by company artists and Artistic Director David Parsons).

Courtesy of Parsons Dance

Mr. Parsons received an MFA from Jacksonville University as the first Howard Gilman Fellow. He has created works through commissions from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, the American Dance Festival, New York City Ballet, and many other well-known organizations. His works have also been performed by Batsheva Dance Company of Israel, English National Ballet, Feld Ballets/NY, Paris Opera Ballet, and many others.  He choreographed and directed the dance elements for Times Square 2000, the 24-hour festivities in Times Square celebrating the turn of the Millennium. New York Magazine has called Mr. Parsons “one of modern dance’s great living dance-makers.”

The Parsons Dance residency at the Thrasher-Horne Center will continue to build on a foundation of rich and groundbreaking dance programming being offered to our Northeast Florida community. Last January, Thodos Dance Chicago presented a touring production of A Light in the Dark: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. Thodos Dance Chicago was founded in 1992 by the renowned Melissa Thodos. The company’s mission of inspiring expression through dance has established TDC as an original force in modern dance. Reaching young minds through dance education is vital to the TDC mission.  A Light in the Dark is an inspiring story ballet, which explores how a caring teacher helped guide a blind and deaf girl into a career as an internationally acclaimed writer and political activist. In February, the Moscow Festival Ballet presented The Sleeping Beauty. Marius Petipa is widely regarded as the most influential ballet master and choreographer in ballet history. The Sleeping Beauty was the crowning jewel of his career. It is considered by many to be the finest achievement of the classical ballet. The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 by Sergei Radchenko, the legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet. The performance of The Sleeping Beauty at the Thrasher-Horne Center was both enchanting and magical. Dance is also an integral element in Broadway productions, including those that have graced the main stage at the Thrasher-Horne Center. This past season, touring productions of four superb musicals (Ragtime, Annie, Saturday Night Fever, and Once) all featured unique and inspired dance elements.

Courtesy of Parsons Dance

Dance Education

“In the age of standardized testing, arts environments can provide the safe havens where mistakes are treated as discoveries and expression is celebrated. Higher order thinking is a natural part of the performance and students exit the stage smarter and more prepared for whatever life has in store for them. Dancers have an edge.” Heather Vaughan

Courtesy of Parsons Dance

Dance education and dance as a performing art provide several benefits to students. Dance plays a very important part in the education of thousands of young people throughout Northeast Florida. Both LaVilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts has excellent dance programs. St. Johns River State College, Florida State College in Jacksonville, and many private schools have dance programs as well. Research shows that students of dance are highly motivated, disciplined and focused in their everyday lives. They are also creative, imaginative, and have above average communication skills.

“Education in the art of dance develops the knowledge and skills required to create, perform, and understand movement as a means of artistic communication. Exposure to dance history and cultures, kinesiology and anatomy, and movement theories further enriches the dance educational experience.” National Dance Education Organization

Please share this article with your friends and colleagues. The Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.

Tickets for concerts and other events and others are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets!

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.

Related articles

• White House arts program teams up with Kennedy Center

Billy Gardell to perform on Saturday, December 3, 2016

Tickets available to Thrasher-Horne Center members now!

Billy Gardell will perform at Thrasher-Horne Center on Saturday, December 3^rd, 2016, at 7:30 PM. Thrasher-Horne Center Members can buy tickets now, but the show will not be available to the general public until May 16^th. These tickets will go quickly, so don’t miss your chance to see this hilarious show!

Billy Gardell took the long road to Hollywood, stopping at every small town lounge, military base and comedy club along the way. His comedy act took him to Los Angeles, where his dedication to acting, along with touring as a stand-up comedian, allowed him to grow consistently in both arenas. His stand-up show is a powerhouse. His grounded, down-to-earth point of view strikes a strong chord with American audiences. Stories about his rough childhood, wild adolescence and new family life are executed with the skill of a master craftsman.

 “Whenever I realize I'm being a goofball; I write it down. When I release the joke onstage, I love watching the effect it has on the audience. No one wants to see someone talk who takes themselves too seriously.” Billy Gardell

Best known for his role of Officer Mike Biggs on the CBS Hit television series, MIKE & MOLLY, Gardell is also the host of a new game show, MONOPOLY MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB, based on the hit board game and produced by the team behind Deal Or No Deal.  Gardell also co-starred in the critically acclaimed television series “Lucky." His other television credits include Yes Dear, Judging Amy, My Name is Earl, The Practice, Monk, and Gary the Rat.

“You start realizing that maybe you're the one night a month that people have out, and they don't need to hear your political views or how dark you can get. They just want to laugh for an hour and go home. Once I wrapped my head around that, my act evolved accordingly.” Billy Gardell

As a standup comic, his comedy specials, "Billy Gardell: Halftime," premiered on Comedy Central and "Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs" premiered on Showtime. In addition, he makes regular appearances on "NFL Today" on CBS Sports.

Experience MORE as a Thrasher-Horne Center Member

Get your tickets to big events like Billy Gardell’s performance before they are available to the public. After all, there are some shows you just don’t want to miss.

Become a member of the Thrasher-Horne Center. Your Membership Donation contributes to the future of the Thrasher-Horne Center and brings you MORE by supporting programming, outreach, events, capital improvements and venue operations.  We can't do it without you!

All of our members and donors should be very proud that they, through their contributions to Thrasher-Horne Center, helped to achieve the following:

• Over 7,500 students and teachers from schools throughout Northeast Florida participated in field trips where they learned about the visual and performing arts.
• The School Time Series enriched the lives of students with many entertaining, educational, and engaging performances such as Charlotte’s Web, Dinosaur Train Live! The BFG, and Miss Nelson is Missing.
• Thrasher-Horne Center kicked off its inaugural season of Broadway Orange Park with a stunning production of the beloved classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. 2016 began with Ragtime in January, followed by Annie in February and Saturday Night Fever in March. The Northeast Florida Premiere of Once will cap the season in May.  
• In 2015, Thrasher-Horne Center also hosted concerts by some of the finest recording artists around, including Lyle Lovett, America, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald. Other memorable events included the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra conducted by Courtney Lewis and the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China: Peking Dreams. Comedian Bill Engvall’s hilarious performance broke all of our standing box office records.

Membership Levels

Thrasher-Horne Center memberships are available starting at $75.00. Member benefits include priority ticket ordering, discounts, VIP parking, and more. Member benefits are good for regular Thrasher-Horne Center presentations for one year from the purchase date.

Members joining at the Silver, Gold or Platinum Circle levels can enjoy relaxing in the Thrasher-Horne Center Circle Club. This lounge-like atmosphere features complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The Circle Club is open one hour prior to most main stage performances.

There are six different ways you can enjoy more:

$75 – Friend

$150 – Donor

$300 - Contributor

$500 – Silver Circle

$1,000 – Gold Circle

$1,500 – Platinum Circle

Platinum Circle members enjoy all of the following benefits. Other levels of membership feature two or more of the listed benefits.

• Priority Ticket Ordering & Pre-Sale Announcements
• Membership Recognition
• Option to exchange tickets for another performance or Gift Certificate
• 15% discount on ticket purchases all season long!
• 10% discount on rentals at Thrasher-Horne Center
• Thrasher-Horne Circle Club admittance for up to eight
• Thirty complimentary drink coupons
• Guaranteed reserved seats during Priority Ticket Ordering and Pre-Sale periods.
• One Named Reserved Season Parking Spot with VIP Season Parking Pass

For more information on member benefits, go to the membership page.  

---

The Thrasher-Horne Center plays a unique and significant role in the cultural life of the surrounding community. It’s a venue which hosts artistic performances that are not available elsewhere. The permanent and seasonal exhibits give visitors the opportunity to see works of art that they would not otherwise encounter.

Without the generous support of members and donors, it wouldn’t be possible for the Thrasher-Horne Center to continue to serve the community as it has in the past. Please consider becoming a donor or joining the Thrasher-Horne Center as a member.

For more details about Thrasher-Horne Center Membership, go to our Membership page.

For more information on giving opportunities, please call (904) 276-6815.

Donations can also be made online.

Please share this article with your friends and colleagues. The Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.

In this article, I’ve written about Billy Gardell’s upcoming performance in December of 2016. I’ve also written about Thrasher-Horne Center membership and the Thrasher-Horne Center’s unique contributions to the cultural life of the surrounding community.

Tickets for events are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theatre, to dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! 

Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.

Related articles

• Billy Gardell To Co-Star In CMT Drama Series 'Million Dollar Quartet'
• Billy Gardell opens up on "Mike & Molly" ending
• The 2016 Daytime Nominations Are In
• Daytime Emmys Nominations 2016: See Full List Of Emmy Awards Nominees!

ONCE, the Northeast Florida Premiere

Sunday, May 1^st, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Guy meets Girl in the SMASH-HIT, MULTI-AWARD WINNING MUSICAL ONCE

ONCE  is a truly original Broadway experience. It was the winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL.  With an ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage, ONCE is the charming tale of a Dublin street musician who’s ready to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes an interest in his love songs. The chemistry between them grows, and his music soars to powerful new heights. However, their unlikely connection turns out to be deep and complex. ONCE draws you in from the first note and never lets go.

Guy is played by Sam Cieri. He was born in Boca Raton, Fla. After high school, Sam went from being a dueling piano player at The Mirage in Las Vegas to playing music in the New York City subways to pay the bills. After a quick stint as a mo­torcycle salesman, he decided to come to the theatre. Most recently Sam was seen in Rock of Ages as Drew. He is very excited to be involved in Once and would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.

Girl is played by Mackenzie Lesser-Roy. She is a NY-based actor/singer/musician/dancer. She feels honored to join the cast and crew of Once. Her experience in regional theatre includes Spring Awakening (Wendla), Swee­ney Todd (Beggar Woman), The Threepenny Opera (Jenny). She received much of her training at The Boston Conservatory.

In 2007, a charming, off-beat Irish film titled Once opened to glowing reviews and soon developed a fervent following. This touching musical tells the story of two down-on-their-luck musicians, a Dublin street singer/songwriter who repairs vacuums, and a Czech immigrant who supports herself and her family by selling flowers. Girl initiates a friendship with Guy. In one week they make music together, fall in love, and part ways. The stars of the movie, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, also wrote much of the score. One of their songs, Falling Slowly, and received an Oscar.

Prior to the start of the show, the audience is invited to come onto the stage while the cast is having a jam session. As the show unfolds, the focus is, of course, on the relationship between Guy and Girl, but the audience also catches glimpses of the lives of the other characters. Once has proven to be as powerful onstage as it is on film. “I think what’s very moving about the piece is how sometimes we meet people who we don’t necessarily stay with forever, but they give us the resources to move on to the next part of our life,” says Director John Tiffany. 

Reviews of Once, The Musical

“Once uses song and dance in a way I’ve never experienced in an American musical.” New York Times

“Once is unusually fun and heartfelt musical theatre. The cast is on fire.” The New Yorker

“A love story played with fierce sincerity and unexpected honesty.” Wall Street Journal

“There are plenty of romantic Broadway musicals, but Once is part of a much smaller and rarefied group: musicals that are actually wise about the joys and anguish of love and life.” Chicago Tribune

“Unbridled Joy!” Vogue

“Pure, moving, inventive, and irresistible. Once makes a lasting connection.” Associated Press

“A rhapsodic unique musical that’s tender, funny, and soaring.” Variety

“Once charms us with a rare combination of intelligence, warmth, and musicality.” Bloomburg News

“A new musical to celebrate. Wonderful and enchanting.” Newsday

“Once in a blue moon, perhaps once in a decade or so, a new Broadway musical breaks the rules, challenges expectations, and delights audiences with something they didn’t realize they were longing for. Once is that musical.” Columbus Dispatch

Once has been produced in Dublin, London, Melbourne, and Seoul. The second North American touring production began in January of this year. This production has been to Kalamazoo, New Haven, Wausau, Burlington, and many other cities. See Once at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Sunday, May 1^st.

Get tickets for the Northeast Florida Premiere of Once.  

Just Another Day in Paradise with Phil Vassar

Country music singer and songwriter Phil Vassar is known as one of Nashville’s top tunesmiths. He has been described as, “A piano-pounding powerhouse on stage.” Playing over 135 shows per year, he taps into his audiences via social media for song requests. His chart-topping hits include ten No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits. Among those are "Carlene," "Six-Pack Summer," "That's When I Love You," and "Just Another Day in Paradise."

Phil Vassar was honored as ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year in 1999. He’s one of country music’s great singer/songwriters, and he continues to turn out music that captures the heart and soul.  His upcoming appearance at Thrasher-Horne Center is one event no fan of country music will want to miss. Special guest Russell Dickerson will appear with Phil Vassar at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Get tickets to see Phil Vassar with special guest Russell Dickerson.

---

Please share this article with your friends and colleagues. The Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.

In this article, I’ve written about the upcoming Northeast Florida Premiere of the acclaimed musical Once. The performance will be at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Sunday, May 1^st.  I’ve also noted the upcoming performance by Phil Vassar.

Tickets for these events and others are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theatre, to dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! 

Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.

Related articles

• Phil Vassar, Frankie Ballard among Windy City Smokeout lineup