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Wing women: Dance group brings focus to local art

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By Katie Vaughn | Saturday, June 16, 2007 11:07 PM CDT | () comments

Naidine D’Angelo lives the principle she promotes: that everyone, no matter their talent or position in life, can and should pursue some form or art.

A visual artist as well, D’Angelo found her place in dance. She retired in 2004 from her post as a dance teacher at United Township High School in East Moline. But dance wasn’t always part of her life, she said.

“I didn’t start dancing until I was 25,” she added. “I was a late bloomer.”

Her late start made her a good fit for teaching students who had little or no prior experience in dance, both at United Township and with New York West, a dance troupe she established in 1983. Made up of former students, the group entertained around the Quad-City area for roughly 14 years, she said.

In 2004, many of D’Angelo’s former students attended her last United Township concert. There, several asked her to teach again. So, she launched Wings: New York West, an all-volunteer, not-for-profit dance company and began offering annual showcase performances.

Today, the group features D’Angelo, five dancers and two apprentices. Rebecca Myers is one of the dancers and a 1988 graduate of United Township. She said joining Wings was a natural choice because she discovered a love of the art form as a teenager.

“It’s just something I’ve always done,” she said of dancing.

Myers said the dancers look forward to their weekly practices. Despite their age and career differences, their connection and commitment to dance makes rehearsing for performances enjoyable, she said.

“We get along so well as a group it’s not that challenging,” she added.

While Wings offers programs and performances for schools and other groups, an annual highlight is the show it offers at the Galvin Fine Arts Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

“Brand New Day” is the title of this year’s performance, which will feature a variety of dances, including jazz, black-light theater and comedy.

“We do everything,” D’Angelo said.

In one of the comedies, dancers use Lycra bags to act out different characters and slapstick situations. D’Angelo said the stretchy material has made for popular performances in the past.

“We do a very visual show,” she said. “It’s wonderful. We just have a great time.”

Wings also reaches out to other artists in the Quad-Cities. Each year, the group features a guest artist, and this year that person is Mona Ritemon, who will perform African drumming.

“We really want the community to see and support all the different styles of art, so we try to offer as much in that way to local artists,” D’Angelo said.

Additionally, 20 incoming third-grade students from Riverdale Heights Elementary School in the Pleasant Valley district will display four series of artwork in the Galvin lobby.

The overall focus of the event, D’Angelo said, is to highlight local talent and offer family-friendly art and entertainment.

“One of the things we really work on is family entertainment,” she added. “Unfortunately, with the world the way it is today, families need opportunities to go to solid, good entertainment.”

Katie Vaughn can be contacted at (563) 383-2282 or kvaughn@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

If you go

What: “Brand New Day” featuring Wings: New York West dance company and Mona Ritemon

When: 7 p.m. June 23

Where: Galvin Fine Arts Center, campus of St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport

How much: $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and groups of six or more, $4 for children 6-12 years old.

Information: (309) 269-7132