life
arts &
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es
Starting dancing as a child in
Chicago, Bernstein-Siegel earned
her undergraduate and graduate
degrees from Ohio State University.
Performing in Ohio before mov
ing to Michigan, she landed at Ol,',
where she has taught dance history,
choreography and improvisation
technique.
Even while teaching full-time,
Bernstein-Siegel made time for
special projects, including choreo
graphing for community theater
A local woman
helps shed light
on
dance.
and
presenting a program at the
Great Lakes Chamber Music
Festival, where she still serves
as a
director.
Dancers
in tandem with
move
spectacular lighting treatments
in The
Liqht
Show.
A
two-year commitment to the
Austrian
"Ours is
I
repertory company
pieces from a variety of
choreographers, not just Laurie.
There's an interesting mix that
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing
Eisenhower and
ance
Bernstein-Siegel
that has
Writer
has long illumi-
nated the life of Debra
Now,
its
Bernstein-Siegel.
spotlight is shining brighter on
a new
Eisenhower Dance
(E/D)
The
choreographers
designers to incorporate unique
lighting effects, resulting in breath-
taking staging. Beginning with
the lighting, the dancers' move-
ments were developed in tandem
with varying light treatments. The
production will be presented one
night only, Saturday, Jan. 31, at the
Show will be
LJqht
performed 7:30 p.m. Saturday,
Jan. 31, at the Detroit
House, Detroit.
237-51 NG;
Opera
$25-$83. (313)
michiqanopera.org.
Detroit
Eisenhower will discuss the
program in
a
A master
class
"I like the idea that this show
performance.
features several different chore-
ographers, each with different
is available for
ways of approaching music:' says
Bernstein-Siegel, who has worked
intermediate/advanced level
dancers, ages 14 and older, at
11 a.m. on the
morning of the
as a
presentation; pre-registration
at
Opera House.
one
presentation
hour before the
Light Show pairs four
with four lighting
tail
+
dance@motopera.org
is
required.
dancer, choreographer and
29
"
2015
Eisenhower, who created two of
"The fact that there
the five dances, selected the par-
ticipants. She worked directly with
lighting designers
Kenneth Keith,
It's
ing designer,
Ravel's Bolero
tive
as
number set to
well
as an
will experience
interac-
a
different
viewers
lot of innovations.
new
work:'
Bernstein-Siegel,
a
are
means
always exciting for dancers to
have
piece that combines various
lighting are
the Board of Trustees at Temple
Beth El, tutors at Detroit's Glazer
Elementary School, an initiative of
the
temple
board member for 20 of E/D's
watched
Eisenhower program
ming and audiences grow, would
general interest in dance
viewers. Although she
prioritizes live performances, she is
pleased that television is develop
like to
see
attract
more
lighting techniques.
Another dance paired Texas
choreographer Gina Patterson
with New York lighting designer
nearly 25 years, is involved in areas
as diverse as the company's fiscal
responsibility to its marketing.
"Laurie and I were colleagues
Burke Brown; their piece, Between
Shadow and Soul, utilizes pho-
Oakland University (OU):' says
Bernstein-Siegel, recently retired
like Dancing with the Stars and
tography reflector stands for a
soft and diffused light source.
Choreographer Iamey Hampton
worked with lighting-designer
from full-time
So You Think You Can Dance:
at
faculty status but
continuing online to teach dance
history and appreciation.
"I had known her professionally
ing dance appreciation with shows
"I believe dance is best appreci
ated in its live state
ship about
halls:' 0
lunches for
10 years
Jan. 30; Feb. 2-6. Call
restaurants
OSCAR SHORTS
for reservations; for
list, visit
View all 10 2015
a
ago:'
Academy
Award
birminghamrestaurantweek.org.
Nominated Short Films in
MAKING FACES
eye-popping program at the
Detroit Film Theatre, Jan. 30-Feb.
A collection of
19.
painted portraits
by contemporary artists including
Robert Schefman, Victor Rodriguez
and Trisha Holt will be on display in
"Making Faces" at Birmingham's
David Klein Gallery through Feb. 28.
(248) 433-3700; dkgallery.com.
one
Among the nominees: the live
action, made in Israel and France
Aya, The Phone Call, starring Sally
Hawkins and Jim Broadbent, and
an animated story of a man
Feast,
dog, Winston. $6.50-$8.50.
(313) 833-7900; dia.org.
and his
as
opposed to
television, which flattens it:' she
Stephanie Pizzo, E/D's associate
at
a
Bernstein-Siegel, who has
who has been
matic results in Laissez Faire. And
-
and raised Aaron,
California.
E/D, founded by artistic director
Laurie Eisenhower.
hottest
-
techno music distributor in Detroit,
and Samuel, a housing developer in
form
$15; three
course dinners for $30; plus extra
incentives and raffles. Through
80 January
added:' says Bloomfield Hills-
resident Bernstein-Siegel, 63.
for a long time and knew her com-
Restaurant Week 2015. Three
course
experience any
on
pany as an audience member. I was
asked to move into board leader-
equally tempting
prices during Birmingham
more
Opera Theatre, was a member of
commissioned it with the Detroit
Michigan light-
the board of the Michigan
sits
interesting visual
time dimensions like
on a
dancing.
addition, Bernstein-Siegel
form, audiences get an even more
for Performing Arts, which co-
a
In
Mark LaPierre, who varied laser
Kitchen & Bar, Tallulah Wine Bar &
Bistro, the Bird & the Bread, Toast
and
visual art
lights for both humorous and dra-
Luxe Bar & Grill,
Mitchell's Fish Market, Social
-
room
a
university instructor. She also is
Birmingham's
restaurants
the young women's elaborate ball
which plays with
board chair of the Southfield-based
YUMMY FUN
Check out
Lansing's
Wharton Center
community, has her directing
the
3 for
"Because dance is
The program premiered last year
Society's annual Strauss
Ball, which presents debutantes to
local lighting-designer Kerro Knox
way"
at East
director, collaborated with
Spectrum,
light and color.
Opera House.
production.
The
artistic
a
says. "It's a three-dimensional art
so I am passionate about get
ting people to see it in performance
YOU'LL LAUGHr YOU'LL CRY
Neil Si on's semi
automoqraphlcel Briqhton Beach
Memoirs a funny, touching
portrait of a Jewish family in pre
is told from
war-era Brooklyn
the perspective of a 15-year-old
boy. See it performed by the
Village Players of Birmingham
at their playhouse through
Feb. 15. $18. (248) 644-2075;
birminghamvillageplayers.com.
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