Features
The art of aerial dancing
NHS teacher part of state's first Contemporary Dance Festival
By Tony Pennington
Transcript Staff Writer
Kal-El, the Kryptonian knight known as Superman wasn't alone soaring through the skies this summer. While the "Man of Steel" took flight in the friendly confines of the local cineplex, Norman High School teacher Rebecca vonBargen was suspended high above a stage. She wasn't a bird nor a plane, she was aerial dancing.
VonBargen, 29, will return to firm footing following the completion of the first Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival Aug. 11-12 at Stage Center's Mary Noble Tolbert Theater, 400 W. Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City. In addition to her Spanish education duties at NHS, she one of six members of Perpetual Motion/Modern Dance Oklahoma. Her summer vacation was spent choreographing two pieces -- Plunge and Elan Vitale -- and preparing for two aerial works -- one on a trapeze and one on fabric. She has been involved with dance community for more than 25 years and welcomes the chance to elevate the presence of modern dance in Oklahoma.
"I think there are a lot of talented dancers in Oklahoma," she said. "There just isn't a community for it yet and there aren't many post graduate opportunities for dancers."
VonBargen has experienced other thriving dance environments and would like to replicate that atmosphere in Oklahoma. She arrived in Norman last year from Austin, Texas, to assume a teaching position, but she never gave up on dancing. She joined Perpetual Motion/Modern Dance Oklahoma as an outlet for her creativity and it has now shifted in another aspect of education.
"I think people have a misconception of what modern dance is," she explained. "We are trying to promote our local talent. It's difficult to build a successful dance company, but I hope some of the high school and college students will start to think about staying and investing in the Oklahoma dance community."
VonBargen isn't all talk. She may be asking for homegrown talent to stay within the state, but that doesn't mean she is unwilling to pay a price herself. For the past several months she has made the commitment to her art and made sacrifices with her body. It's her first time to aerial dance, and unlike the comic book hero, pain is a factor.
"It hurts and I have bruises on my arms," she said pointing to the red and purple colored areas from her aerial practices. "I didn't like it at first because it's scary. But it's a unique form and not everyone can do it. It's a lot of fun and very liberating."
It is more than a novelty for vonBargen. She said being in the air has made her a more rounded performer.
"It just great to be able to add another dimension to my dancing," she said. "We are not hanging from the trapeze or fabric. It's fun to explore the art of movement."
VonBargen will complete her summer occupation more than a week before Norman's schools open. It will give her plenty of time to return to Earth. But the way she speaks of teaching, she might as well be back dancing among the stars.
"I had a great year at Norman High last year," the Spanish teacher said. "It was my best teaching experience. I'm excited to get back and meet the new kids in my class."
Tony Pennington 366-3541 schools@normantranscript.com
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