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Press/Photo Gallery
Jimmy Locust
Photo by Jim Kahnweiler
Stamford Performing
Arts Center is pleased to announce that
Artistic Director, Jimmy Locust,
is represented as
a
choreographer by McDonald/Selznick
Associates
of New York City and Los Angeles.
Click Here
to view Jimmy's commercial reel.
To read more about Jimmy, visit his website at
www.jimmylocust.com!
**************
Jimmy collaborates as Director/Choreographer with Cirque Du
Soleil on Reebok 2009 Spring Line!
Jimmy went to Las Vegas to Choreograph and Direct Reebok's
latest project with Cirque Du Soleil. Artists (pictured above) from
Cirque's show KA performed in the show. Reebok and Cirque Du Soleil have
collaborated together on a new line of apparel and a specialized
workout presently in gyms around the world.
"Spreading the Art
of Dance and Choreography on the Road"
Artistic Director, Jimmy Locust just returned from Atlanta where he
worked with the amazing Dance 411 Studios. He gave a master
class and later auditioned some of the dancers for future projects he
will be directing/choreographing in the Atlanta area. He also just
returned from Chicago where he was a part of a new ground breaking documentary about the late Gus
Giordano entitled "Gus Giordano An American Icon". He was filmed
as he shared his thoughts on the mentor who changed his life. "It was
an exciting and emotional experience. Gus changed my life and instilled
the self esteem I needed to make it in this business" says Locust.
Jimmy will be flying to Chicago for the World Première on July 22nd. Stay tuned as Jimmy will be
launching his new book The Locust Technique which some of SPAC's
very own students will be featured in the video and internet podcasts!
Locust Contemporary Dance Works II
Sold Out
their March 7th Concert at the Crystal Theater in Norwalk!!
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The concert was standing room only! The
reviews were amazing! Here's just a few!!!
" The show was absolutely
fabulous. It was a wonderful combination of the arts..."
Dana Davis Mitchell "I thought the
show was just amazing and there was so much variety. The
musical guest took the show to a whole new level"
anonymous
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Jimmy's New PodcastGo Dance Episodes,
The Spirit of Dance
 
www.podcastgo.com/spirit of dance
Jimmy teaches you basic and advanced
hip hop routines, jazz routines, as well as great toning exercises!
All downloads are FREE! You can email episodes to your cell
phone
or download them to your ipod and take them with you wherever you
go!
Jimmy & Gwen Edwards
(Click to enlarge)
SPAC featured on Cablevision's Channel 12
Click on the segments below to view
Segment 1 - Locust
Contemporary Dance Works Concert, "Of Light and Temptation"
Segment 2 - SPAC's programs and scholarships (Horizons)
Segment 3 - No Hate But Harmony (how it began) and SPAC's
outreach programs
Segment 4 - No Hate But Harmony performance
THE
'EXCEPTIONAL'
INCEPTION!!
Last year's March event was a huge
success,
thanks to the talent and professionalism of
our special guest performers and artists!
Special thanks to the viewers young and old who
came out to support Locust Contemporary Dance Works. Your
appreciation of the arts made it all worthwhile!
Click on the link to read the blog
from
New York's B-Line Entertainment about this exciting event!
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=24157989&blogID=374795014
Jimmy Locust
Angelica Heron & Catherine Heath
Wilson Heredia, "Angel" from Rent
 
Drew Yowell, Jimmy Locust & Jo Ann Thompson-Claybourne
******************************
**************************************************
STAMFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
PITCHES IN FOR A WORTHY CAUSE,
URBAN FARMING.
Urban Farming intends to eradicate hunger by planting gardens on unused
land and space while increasing diversity, motivating youth and seniors
and optimizing the use of land for the production of food and
alternative fuel.
Jimmy Locust recently traveled to Detroit to support
Urban Farming Founder,
Taja Sevelle, (pictured below) during a promotional fundraiser
in conjunction with Atlantic Records' Scream Tour.
Yung Joc, Bad Boy recording
artist, took time out of his schedule to drop by one
of Urban Farming's biggest gardens to show his support.
FACT ABOUT URBAN FARMING:
Urban
Farming engages youth departments of faith-based organizations, youth
groups, schools and colleges, as well as the senior community and asks
each group to volunteer twice a month on a selected garden. This
creates a diverse infrastructure on each garden site that in turn helps
to strengthen relationships within the community.
Jimmy with Urban Farming Staff, Joyce
Lapinsky, Taja Sevelle and Michael Travis
FACT ABOUT URBAN FARMING:
Urban
Farming has received national and international attention on The Montel
Williams Show; ABC’s The View, USA Today, The LA Times, The New York
Observer, many radio shows across the country, appeared several times
on each of the local Detroit News stations, UPN in Detroit; Print
articles in Detroit News, Michigan Chronicle, Detroit Free Press,
Columbus, and more, as well as mentioned in several newspapers around
the world, recently, in conjunction with the release of recording artist
Prince’s new fragrance, 3121.
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge
and see more pictures from Jimmy's trip!
  
Jimmy & Program Development
Jimmy with food just picked
Consultant, Joyce Lapinsky
that's on it's way to local families in need
Taja being interviewed by
Taja, Jimmy &
Jimmy with local girl
media at Scream Fest event
Co-Director, Michael Travis taking pride in her
garden.
For donations to help this worthy
cause please visit their website at
www.urbanfarming.org or call
248-388-4749.
You will be helping feed someone in need.
We are proud to announce that the
Reebok job was a huge success at the Mohegan Sun on April 11th. It
was so fantastic that the cast has been asked to go on tour to Boston to
perform the show at the Reebok Headquarters on May 1st. Jimmy
Locust, event choreographer, is excited to report that six of our very
own SPAC students made it through the grueling audition in NYC and were
one of the highlights of the show. These students include:
Khandice Dyson, Ally Fahey, Dustin Knopoff, Ivory McCulley, Jackie
Paasman & Richard Westfahl. CONGRATULATIONS! You Rock!
The entire Reebok Cast!
Jimmy with the
SPAC Reebok Youth Dancers
SPAC's Vocal Students auditioned and
were chosen by Paula Brown, associate for
Simon Cowell of American
Idol, to sing background for Britain's Got Talent winner, Paul Potts. They performed on the
CBS Early Show,
which aired on December 22nd, and for Bloomingdale's Christmas
Tree Lighting.
Congratulations to those chosen!
Click on the link below to watch the students perform
at the Bloomingdale's Christmas Tree Lighting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R_9M17Qeoc
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Look out for the new documentary!!
Gus Giordano "An American Icon"
July 22, 2009 is the release date of this groundbreaking documentary
directed by International Award Winning Director Pedro Brenner.
This documentary will cover the life of the man who changed the face of
Jazz Dance. Pedro who is also a renowned photographer
CIS (Creative Image
Services) spent time with Jimmy Locust as they reminisced on the
incredible life of Gus Giordano.
The world mourns the loss of a
legend... "You will be
missed, Gus. You single handedly changed the dance world with your
amazing technique and encouragement to others, me especially" -
Jimmy Locust
We are sad to say goodbye to world renowned Gus Giordano
who passed away on March 9th, 2008 at 3:11am.
Jimmy traveled back to
Chicago one last time to pay his respects.
A memorial scholarship fund has been set up.
If interested in donating,
please send payments and make checks out to:
Gus Giordano Memorial Fund
614 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201 ********
Jimmy went back to his roots and was a part Gus Giordano's
Jazz Dance Chicago & The World Jazz Dance Congress 2007!
Becoming a member of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago was when Jimmy's
career began. He feels blessed and honored to have had Gus
Giordano (pictured below) discover his talent. While visiting
The World Jazz Dance Congress, Jimmy took class and demonstrated for Nan
Giordano, Artistic Director, and Susan Quinn Williams, a former company
member, as well as attending nightly concerts with renowned companies
from across the U.S. and countries all around the world
including Japan, Italy, Russia and Mexico.
Jimmy presents Gus with a silver ring box engraved with a personal note
reading, Gus, because you believed in me I learned to believe in
myself. Deepest gratitude.
Jimmy poses with Nan Giordano, Artistic Director
Click on the thumbnails to view pictures
of the company when Jimmy
was a member.
Click on the thumbnails to view
past and present company members
Jimmy reunited with Tuni Lewis, an old company member!
 
Jimmy & Elijah
Jimmy poses with Jimmy & Patti Obey
current company members
Jimmy with Susan Quinn Williams
Jimmy with Michael Williams, Sherry Zunker, Susan
Quinn Williams, Ian Williams &
Richard Havey
Jimmy Locust has teamed up with the
Connecticut Friends School to
run a 10 week dance program incorporating hip-hop, ballet, jazz,
modern and musical theater.
Click here to view the announcement about the class in the CT
Friends School, Pine Needles weekly notes.
(When viewing the page, click on the tab to enlarge article)
Stamford Performing Arts Center's years in
review...
2007-2008
Jimmy's Mon.
Jimmy's Thurs.
3pm Hip Hop
3pm Hip Hop
Jimmy with Thursday 6:00 Hip Hop Pros
Jimmy's Hip Hop Divas
Sophie Kriftcher, Kendall Battles, Jessica Baden, Emma Rimerman, Kate
Rich & Riley Kurzer
 
Jimmy with Justin Romano, SPAC's future Boy's Hip Hop Class Member!
(Click the thumbnails below to enlarge)
Alison A's Tues.
Jimmy's Mon.
Josue's Sat.
4:00 Hip Hop
3:00 Hip Hop 10am
Boys Hip Hop
Alison L's Sat.
Alison A's Wed.
10am Ballet/Jazz/Tap
6:00 Hip Hop
Summer '07
Jimmy's Musical Theater Students get pumped
before their debut performance!
2006-2007
Click
on the thumbnails to view
some pictures from our
2007 Year End Performance!
  
 
  
  
  
Alison & her littles
Jimmy's Thurs
Tracey & tappers
Jimmy's Hip Hop Divas! Alison & her girls
Jimmy's Mon. 3:00
Hip Hop
Suzanne's Adv. Lyrical
Alison L & Tues.
Kelly's Monday
tappers
7:00
4:00 Ballet
Hannah Montana's SPAC students
biggest fans
Madeline DiNucci
Jimmy's Thurs. 3:00
& Erica Casinelli
Jimmy's
Alison with A-Crew
Adult Dancers
Alison L's
Jimmy's Saturday
Saturday
12:00 tap/jazz 10am Hip Hop
Tracey's Mon.
4:00 Jimmy's
Hip Hop
Jackie Paasman, Antonia Bova, and friend hanging out
at the SPAC Open House. Jimmy Locust poses with adult dancer Cecilia
Carter.
2005-2006
(Opening Year)
Adult dancers (On left: Janet
DeLeo, Raengel Solis, Marsha DeSouza, Joyce Takiguchi, Barbara Occhino,
LaVerne Burton, Chris Anderson; on right: Raengel Solis, Jimmy Locust,
Barbara Occhino)
Jimmy Locust and Rachel Rosado
performing at the SPAC Premiere Year-End Performance. This photo is
featured on Capezio's website.
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge picture.
   
SPAC's takes part in
Stamford's Tribute to
Black History Month in 2006!
Click Here to view the Press Release for the
"Spirit of New Orleans"
Black History Gala at the Rich Forum on February 11, 2006.
*Rescheduled for April 1, 2006*
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge picture.
Jimmy Locust and SPAC Dancers after a successful
performance at the Rich Forum for the "Spirit of New Orleans" Black
History Month Gala on April 1, 2006.
Click on the picture to
enlarge!
 
Click Here to
view the Windows Media File featuring an interview and dance clip of
Jimmy Locust and some of SPAC's dancers, as seen on Channel 12 News.
Click
Here to view the video clip of SPAC Dancers performing at the "Spirit of New Orleans" Gala at the Rich Forum on Saturday, April 1,
2006.
Our very own Ivory
McCulley has done it again!
She has landed another TV
spot, this time in a Japanese commercial!
Click here to watch it!
Click
Here to view the Press Release congratulating the Stamford Strikers,
undefeated champions of the Stamford Youth Soccer League, Girls Division
2. The team was sponsored by Stamford Performing Arts Center this
past year.
Click Here to view the 2006 ad announcing the formation of
Summer Classes
here at SPAC.
Click Here to view the
Channel 12 News coverage of the grand opening
of Stamford Performing Arts Center in 2005.
Click Here to view
the Press Release regarding Jimmy Locust's tour to Iceland with
Darrin
Henson in 2005.
Click Here to
view the article from an Icelandic article discussing Jimmy Locust's and
Darrin Henson's master class series in Iceland. (Please note
that the article is written in Icelandic!)
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge picture.
Pictures with Darrin Henson following the Darrin
Henson Master Class held here at SPAC back in October, 2005.
Click Here
to view the Press Release regarding SPAC winning the Capezio Award
in 2005.
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