PVCC marking first decade of Dickinson

When Anne Megibow first started teaching dance to Piedmont Virginia Community College students three decades ago, her classes met in the basement of St. Mark Lutheran Church. Since then, she has seen the dance program — and the college’s fine arts offerings — grow by leaps and bounds.

In the past 10 years, since the opening of PVCC’s V. Earl Dickinson Building for Humanities and Social Sciences, Megibow has seen the dance offerings blossom from a few technique classes to satisfy physical education requirements to a state-approved specialization program that prepares students to transfer to four-year colleges and complete degrees in dance.

“It has expanded tremendously,’’ said Megibow, an adjunct faculty member. “We’re not just teaching technique. It has turned into a real academic curriculum.’’

Students have the option of taking dance as a gym class or as a humanities class now. There are master classes with well-known companies and choreographers, including Rennie Harris and Philadanco, as well as challenging collaborations in which dance students team up with peers studying sculpture or drama for multidisciplinary performances.

Since the Dickinson Building opened its doors, students and community members alike have enjoyed a wide range of opportunities to listen, watch and learn. Piedmont will be launching a 10th-anniversary season next month filled with theater, music and dance performances, as well as visual art exhibits by faculty members, students and community artists.

A free open house is set for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 13.

A new Web site — http://www.pvcc.edu/performing arts — went live earlier this week, and brochures detailing the busy celebratory season are winding their way through the mail. Before the full rush of fall activities gears up, it’s a good time to mark your calendars for films, performances, exhibits and other programs in the Dickinson.

Here’s a glance at the new PVCC season:

Dance

l Dec.4, 5 and 6, in black-box Maxwell Theatre: “Breaking Ground,’’ the first completely student-run evening of works choreographed, performed and produced by students. $5.

l March 11: Richmond Ballet, marking an anniversary season of its own — its 25th — with performances of “Ancient Airs and dances,’’ “Jardin aux Lilas’’ and “Djangology.’’

l May 1 and 2: “The Extravaganza,’’ the annual concert of works by PVCC faculty members and students produced and choreographed by Megibow, fellow faculty members Cat Maguire and Michelle Cooper and their students.

Master classes will explore modern dance with Carla Perlo on Oct. 25, improvisation with Shane O’Hara on Jan. 31, ballet with Malcolm Burn on March 10 and jazz with Suzanne Corso on April 18.

Music

l Sept. 20: The Chakavak Ensemble, taking a modern approach to Persian music dating back to the fifth century B.C. A master class with conductor Nader Majd is scheduled earlier in the day, starting at 1 p.m.

l Nov. 22: The Local Lounge teams up PVCC with 106.1 the Corner, and host Brad Savage will introduce some of the area’s favorite local bands.

l Nov. 23: American Roots Music Showcase, an effort with the 214 Community Arts Center and the Virginia Discovery Museum that will put old-time music, swing dance and other American art forms in the spotlight.

l Dec. 7: PVCC Chorus Holiday Concert, directed by Jeff Suling. Both PVCC Chorus concerts this season will include songs from the past 10 years in honor of the anniversary.

l March 15: Oratorio Society of Charlottesville-Albemarle presents Haydn’s “The Creation.’’

l April 21: Charlottesville Municipal Band, performing light classics, Broadway tunes, a traditional John Philip Sousa march and more.

l April 26: PVCC Chorus Spring Concert.

Theater

l Oct. 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11: New Lyric Theatre presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Sorcerer.’’

l Nov. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15: PVCC Theatre presents “43 Plays for 43 Presidents,’’ a show marking PVCC’s 26th theater season just in time for national elections.

l Jan. 23: “Unforgettable,’’ a show about Nat King Cole, brings Tony Award nominee Monroe Kent back to PVCC.

l Feb. 27: iO Theater presents improvised Shakespeare-style plays based on suggestions from the audience.

l April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11: PVCC Theatre presents “Fabulous Flavio,’’ a new musical comedy written by John Carden.

Films

The PVCC Student Art Club presents free screenings on Third Friday Free Movie Night.

The first selection will be “Once’’ on Sept. 19.

Visual art

l Sept. 5 to Nov. 6: Chica Tenney, “Constant Places,’’ and “Chica’s Choices’’ featuring Liz Geiger, Jessie Coles and William White. Opening reception is Sept. 12.

l Nov. 14 to Jan. 22: “Three Fabulous Babes’’ by Angi Curreri, Silvia Lizama and Beryl Solla in the North Gallery, and “Looks Good on Paper’’ by Tim Michel, Matt Pamer and Russell U. Richards in the South Gallery.

l Dec. 12: “Let There Be Light,’’ an event featuring works by many local artists, including George Andrews, Harriet Arthur, Fenella Belle, Tom Clarkson and Ted Coffey.

l Jan. 30 to March 14: Annual Faculty Exhibition featuring works by Andrews, Belle, Pamela Black, Clarkson, Rosita Gonzalez, John Hancock, Solla, Rob Tarbell, Ted Thill and Rebekah Wostrel.

l March 20 to April 23: “Vessels’’ by Clarkson, Cri Kars Marshall and Kevin Crowe in the North Gallery, and “Automatic Artifacts’’ by Tracy Davis, Kathleen Free, Judith Minter, Virginia Rice Thompson, Laurie Thurneck, Christine McDowell Tucker, Brigitte Turquois, Staiger White and Susan von Hemert.

l May 1 to Aug. 27: Annual Student Exhibition.

The new site offers everything from calendars of events to ticket information to details about degree requirements and course offerings in fine arts.

The box office can be reached at 961-5376.