Photo courtesy of Rob Smith, conductor,
AURA contemporary ensemble
Trio: Sandra Organ, Yolanda Gibbs and Mireya Gamez take the stage while Melisa Rose and Bernardo Scarambone rehearse their music in the background.

MSM faculty members and flutists Sydney Carlson and Kim Clark shined as they performed “Ecstatic Dances” during one of the evening’s two traditional ballet numbers. Equally pleasurable was the break away from most ballets, where precision and perfection are a requirement. Instead, the dancers relied on modern choreography that allowed them to be fluid in their moves. The game of leapfrog performed by David Armendariz, Mireya Gamez and Yolanda Gibbs during “Remember” was a perfect example of the laid-back essence of this type of dancing.

Equally beautiful in its simplicity was the musical performance of violinist Courtney Keeper and pianist Bernardo Scarambone. Setting the tone for “Poetry Arrived,” the duo’s soft melodies carried throughout the auditorium.

Moods elevated again with Valerie Vidal’s strong presence on the alto saxophone during “Elements.” The dancing trio comprised of Marcelo de Sa Martins, Patrick Willison and David Armendariz did not falter either as they left the audience energized just before intermission.

The second half of the evening continued to showcase stellar dancing and music. Perhaps one of the most memorable performances was “Lament,” in which Sandra Organ joined Mireya Gamez and Yolanda Gibbs onstage. Although many audience members couldn’t help but focus on Organ’s effortless