newsminer.com

Photo by Johnny Wagner

Photo by Johnny Wagner

Photo by Johnny Wagner

FAIRBANKS — The dancers at Dance Theatre Fairbanks spent Thursday evening focusing on everything from hand gestures to attitude.

Today, they take all of that hard work a few blocks over to First Avenue and Lacey Street for two performances during the BP Midnight Sun Festival.

Dianne Christiansen, executive director at DTF, said last year the company performed a mini-ballet, “The Aurora,” and were able to keep a crowd — including young children interested.

“We had a pretty good size crowd,” she said.

This year DTF will be going down a different performance route.

Fifteen upper-level dancers will run through 14 pieces in an action-packed 50 minutes. Ann Olson, senior company director, said there is even a choreographed costume change on stage.

“It will be a montage of pieces,” Christiansen said.

The 14 dance numbers will showcase a wide range of styles offered by DTF, Christiansen said. In addition to ballet, DTF offers training in many styles including jazz, hip-hop and even Highland dancing.

DTF has a lot to offer to a wide variety of people. In addition to diverse class offerings, Christiansen said children from the age of 3 to adults all have a place at DTF. She adds students range from only taking one class a week to dancers who are at the studio six days a week.

DTF also will be performing parts of their latest production, “Thumbelina” during its performance. “Thumbelina” took first place in the theater production category in the News-Miner’s 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Olson said the eclectic mix of dance styles is used to keep a crowd interested and to show the audience not all types of dancing has to be intimidating.

Not only does DTF provide some entertainment it will also provide the dance floor during the festival. Christiansen said for the past couple of years DTF has provided a dance floor of the festival.

“A couple of years ago we realized our kids were in white and rolling around on the floor so we thought ‘Let’s supply the floor,’” she said.

During Thursday’s rehearsal, Olson concentrates on a dance choreographed to the song “Manhunt” from the “Flashdance” soundtrack.

“Shampoo commercials are good things to think about,” she told the dancers.

The honest but likable instructor makes sure each dancer is on the same page. She sees every detail of the dance and gives notes ranging from stage spacing to the look on the dancers’ faces.

After running through “Manhunt” a couple of times, Olson said she thinks her students can be pushed harder so she decided to test her dancers and add more challenging elements. The group worked on a more complex spin and kick portion — after some dread and groaning. But after the initial reaction, looks of dedication could be seen on the dancers’ faces as they concentrated on executing the new moves correctly.

The dedication of DTF students is something Christiansen hopes people see at the performances today.

“It will make you smile,” Christiansen said.