April 7, 2000
Dancing feet add to the beat
in Variety Band-AMR concert
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Twirlers normally known for high-flying batons will show off their jazz and tap dance talents in a multifaceted concert featuring Purdue's Variety Band and American Music Review at 8 p.m. Friday, April 14, in Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center. Admission is free.
Living up to its name, Variety Band will perform everything from the popular "Under the Sea" theme from Disney's animated movie "The Little Mermaid" to a medley of Stevie Wonder songs. The musicians, dancers and singers that comprise American Music Review will interpret classics from the likes of Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
Adding dancing feet into the musical mix revives a tradition for American Music Review, which once featured singer-dancers with its big band. Several years ago, when it became difficult to find performers who could both sing and dance, director William Kisinger opted for vocalists. But when former Purdue Golden Girl Alisha Bane joined the Purdue Bands' staff as auxiliaries director in 1999, she was determined to bring back a tradition that she had enjoyed.
As a result, the April 14 concert features a jazz dance routine to Irving Berlin's classic "Puttin' On the Ritz," and a tap number choreographed to Gene Kruppa's lively "Sing, Sing, Sing." Both make use of the dance talents of Purdue's twirlers.
Ann Loppnow, who has served as Purdue's Golden Girl for the last four years, makes her final appearance in that role at the concert. She'll twirl in "If You Can Rock Me" with the Variety Band, then exchange her gold sequins and boots for jazz attire in "Puttin' On the Ritz" with the American Music Review. Featured dancers alongside Loppnow are Bane and Silver Twins Erin Buescher and Wendy King.
Girl in Black twirler Nicole Ferree, twirling line captain Sarah Lemke and student auxiliary coordinator Angela Howes turn into tappers for "Sing, Sing, Sing."
In honor of the nostalgic feel the dancing brings to the concert, American Music Review decided to cover a lot of familiar territory with its musical selections. "Everyone picked their favorite tunes — the singers, the band and me," said Kisinger. "It's a variety show. That's really what it is."
There are film tunes such as "The Shadow of Your Smile," ballads such as "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," novelty numbers such as "Fever" and funk tunes such as "Cobblestones." Some fall into several categories, such as "Moonlight in Vermont," an old ballad rearranged as a funk tune in the style of Al Jarreau.
This is the final concert of the season for both the Variety Band, directed by David Leppla and Martin Owens, and Kisinger's American Music Review.
CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@purdue.edu
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