Back in town for a duo-ver
Lincoln City native Chenise Crockett will give a homecoming performance this Friday, March 31, co-starring in “Jouissance: A Movement Piece” at the Lincoln City Cultural Center.
Crockett will perform alongside Jordan Kriston in this original duet, during a show that will also feature opening performances by Lincoln City ballet students.
Crockett began her dance studies in 1995 at the Lincoln City Dance Academy under director Renee Taunton. She gave her first performance at the age of five — performing solo after her dance partners failed to show up. She studied at the academy for 10 years, performing many lead roles.
She went on to study at the Arts & Communication Magnet Academy in Beaverton, and performed with the pre-professional Dance West Company at venues like Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the National High School Dance Festival in Philadelphia.
While back East, she took classes with Alvin Ailey, the acclaimed dancer, director, choreographer and activist whose work fused theater, modern dance, ballet and jazz with Black vernacular. Ailey's choreographic masterpiece, “Revelations,” is recognized as one of the most popular and most performed ballets in the world
In 2008, Crockett won a scholarship to Western Oregon University where she became the first freshman in the Rainbow Dance Theater history to be awarded Most Outstanding Dancer. She studied under artistic director Darryl Thomas and graduated in 2012 with a degree in dance.
After university, Crockett performed in a few videos with the JaSkaMon reggae project, headed by her father, Barry Klusman.
She then moved to LA and joined Omnia Dance Academy before returning to Portland and joining ELa FaLa Collective, where she connected with Jordan Kriston to create “Jouissance.”
“Jouissance” will be performed from 6 to 8 pm this Friday, March 31, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
Tickets, $15 for adults or $5 for kids aged 18 and under, are available by calling 541-994-9994 or online at lincolncity-culturalcenter.com.