SanTan Sun News - 11.21.2021

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 21, 2021

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Chandler dance studio presenting ‘Season to Shine’ SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Dance Connection 2, a Chandler dance studio serving the East Valley for 35 years, is collaborating with HopeKids Arizona, a local nonprofit that supports families with children with life-threatening illnesses, on its Season to Shine program. DC2 hosted its Movin’ and Groovin’ dance workshop for the HopeKids families. “This is an opportunity for these kids to forget about the illnesses they are battling and discover and express themselves through the sport of dance,” spokeswoman Shannon Moyette said, adding that “DC2’s highly experienced staff and company dancers” worked “closely with each child teaching them a variety of dance techniques and above all make life-long memories.” The dance workshop was a stepping stone to prepare the foundation’s young performance hopefuls and their families for DC2’s A Season to Shine holiday showcase at 3 p.m. Dec. 11. A Season to Shine is full of holiday classics performed by the studios’ dancers that Moyette said creates “a memorable family event for all ages.” Hope Kids Executive Director Andrea Lewis said, “Our goal is to provide hope for our children and their

Jordyn Berry laughs and Olivia and Gwen Ferguson dance with each other as children from HopeKids learn to dance with instructors from Dance Connection 2.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

families and this program supports that mission. “Collaborating with DC2 over the years has been such a rewarding expe-

rience for our children who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions by allowing them to shine, make new friendships and most

importantly provide hope.” DC2 dancers will also perform two other shows at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, 22149 E. Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek. Tickets go on sale for the Friday and Saturday shows Nov. 23 at qcpac.com. A portion of proceeds from all three performances will be donated directly to HopeKids Arizona. “It has been a tough time for many, so being able to make this program happen with HopeKids Arizona and share it with the community is truly a bright spot this holiday season,” said MaryAnna Gooch, owner of DC2. “Seeing all our dancers share their passion and love of dance with these children both in the studio and on stage is an inspiration and an experience that I hope will stay with them beyond the dance floor.” DC2 offers a variety of recreational classes to performance and competitive dance teams and anyone “interested in discovering and expressing themselves through the sport of dance.” Information: danceconnection2.com. HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities, and a powerful, unique support community for families with critically ill children. Founded in 2001., it now serves nearly 1,500 families in Arizona. Information: hopekids.org.

Chandler author-artist keeping busy this season SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler novelist-artist Laurie Fagen is a busy woman. She has just released the third novel in “Behind the Mic” mystery series while her other interests are keeping her active during the holiday season. The Fox Crossing author and longtime journalist has released her third novel in the series, title “Bleeder.” Her protagonist, a Chandler radio crime reporter named Lisa Powers, helps police solve cold cases and because she’s in a gritty crime world all day, she writes campy murder mystery podcasts at night. The main storyline of “Bleeder” focuses on “the often silent yet violent world of domestic violence,” Fagen explained. “My protagonist also investigates a cold case that may have been a result of a domestic incident as well.” At the same time, Powers is covering the trial of a cop shooter who took her hostage in the previous “Behind the Mic” novel, titled “Dead Air.” Fagen relied on her previous broadcasting career to take readers behind the scenes of that trial. She used her experience running a contemporary art gallery in Chandler for her character’s podcast, titled “Art of the Steal,” where a gallery owner is found dead, a painting is missing and plenty of suspects emerge. Fagen on her website, readlauriefagen.com, writes that the domestic violence story that launches “Bleeder”

Chandler author-artist Laurie Fagen has released her third novel in a mystery series revolving around a radio crime reporter. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

comes “mostly from my imagination, with a little help from various writers police academy sessions I have attended over the years. Some of the cop information about ‘DV’ is also from talking to law enforcement at those workshops as well.” Fagen had a three-decade journal-

ism and video production career that included KTAR News Radio in Phoenix; KWWL-TV, an NBC affiliate television station in Waterloo, IA; The Phoenix Channel, the City of Phoenix government access cable television channel; as owner of Word Painting and writer, producer and director for corporate

video; and as former owner and publisher of SanTan Sun News, with her late husband, Geoff Hancock. Fagen will also have her fiber and jewelry work on display and for sale at the 25th annual Hidden In The Hills studio tour at The Images Studio #18, 6925 E. Windstone Trail, Scottsdale. In addition, Fagen Designs’ fiber wall art can be seen at The Finer Arts Gallery, a new art space at 6137 E. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek. She will be volunteering at the Gallery from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 5 and Dec. 11. Info: FagenDesigns.com, facebook.com/ FagenDesigns and thefinerartsgallery.com. Fagen also will sing Christmas songs accompanied by pianist Pam Morita of Phoenix with several other performers during a holiday concert 7 p.m. Dec. 3 for a fundraiser for the House of Broadcasting Museum. The nonprofit House of Broadcasting, is dedicated to educating the public and preserving and celebrating the history, personalities, and paraphernalia of radio and television in Arizona. It is one of only five museums in the country dedicated to the broadcast industry. The four others are in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Washington D. C. All those on stage have worked in radio and television. It will be performed live at Central United Methodist Church, Kendall Hall, 1875 N. Central, Phoenix then rebroadcast on AZTV Channel 7 (AZtv.com). Information: houseofbroadcasting. com. Tickets: 602-944-1997.