Dance

When the Dancer’s Workshop of San Diego and the San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts teamed up to sponsor master classes in San Diego this season (taught by members of the visiting dance companies invited to appear in the foundation’s 1987-88 series), management was merely testing the waters. It had no idea whether local dancers and dance instructors would jump at the chance to take a high-powered crash course in technique with a world-class dance company.

But when the project got under way with a class taught by Murray Louis Dance Company’s dance captain, Betsy Fisher, during the troupe’s whistle-stop stay in San Diego in November, all doubts were dismissed. The kickoff classes were a staggering success.

As a result, Fisher was invited to return--this time with her musician husband Ernie Provencher--to teach a weeklong modern dance workshop. These intensive training sessions, scheduled for Jan. 30-Feb. 5, will culminate in two evening performances designed to give participants a taste of the real thing.

“We had such an overwhelming success,” said Wendy Ellen Cochran of Dancer’s Workshop, “and since Betsy was planning a vacation here, we decided to schedule another workshop during her stay. As it turned out, her vacation plans fell through, so she had time to do an extended workshop for us.”

The concert, dubbed “Positively Dance and Music,” will consist of dance/theater pieces choreographed by Fisher to sound scores by Provencher (who will perform live at both performances).

The concluding concert is another bonus for local dancers, but, as Cochran explained, it’s all part of the game plan.

“I have found that performing is an important part of the learning experience. Betsy and her husband will be doing their solo concert, and she will choreograph one piece for the students--so they can take part in a professional performance,” Cochran said. “That’s what I’d like to happen eventually with all the guest artists. That’s why I’m in business.”

Both the workshop (in technique and repertory) and the performances, scheduled for Feb. 6-7, will take place at Sushi Gallery.

You can call 266-1460 for information.