Guest instructors teach dance to more than 100 students
Music General's 2000 Summer Dance Camp was held Aug. 14-17 at the Music General studios in Brainerd with more than 100 dancers from the Brainerd lakes area, as well as students from Alexandria and South Dakota, attending.
The weeklong camp also included a Gull Lake cruise on the Knotty Bear.
Students took classes in Tap and Jazz. Guest instructors were Joe Istre, Melissa Giattino and Maria Davidson. Sue Kuhn is the studio director.
Istre moved to New York from his home state of Texas. He has danced in such shows as "42nd Street" and "Chess" and was part of the "Dirty Dancing" Tour. Istre has choreographed shows for HBO, Midas Muffler, American Express and Merle Norman Cosmetics. He teaches master classes all over the country, as well as in the New York area. His choreography won awards at the 1998 International Ballet Festival in Jacksonville.
Giattino of Long Island, N.Y., has toured the world starring in "Peter Pan," "42nd Street" and "A Chorus Line." She was a featured dancer in Hal Prince's acclaimed production of "Showboat" on London's renowned West End (choreographed by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman), and she had the honor of singing and dancing for the king and queen of Malaysia. Giattino is also a member of the world famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Davidson started dancing, teaching and choreographing at the Jill Hoggard Academy of Dance in Owatonna. She received her dance degree from Park Point College in Pittsburgh, graduating as the Outstanding Member in Performing Arts. Davidson has choreographed original jazz works for several dance companies and universities around the country. She has performed in numerous musicals, including the national promotional tour of "Chicago," Lorraine in the national tour of "42nd Street" and world premiers of "Scandals and Hot Shoe Shuffle." She has danced on the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" and HBO's new show "KO Nation." Davidson lives in New York City.