When his dancers perform "seven" (the title of Erik Fine’s piece is the number seven written in tally marks) at Santa Monica College’s (SMC’s) Synapse Dance Theater at the SMC Performing Arts Center’s Broad Stage on May 24 and 25 it will be a sort of homecoming for 27-year-old choreographer Erik Fine. It will be Fine’s fourth time performing in Synapse, and his second time choreographing for it, but equally importantly, it will be a return to the concert that changed the trajectory of his career.
After high school in his native Chicago, Fine’s family moved to Phoenix. Two years later Fine moved to Los Angeles to pursue his interest in music. And then he met a girl. Who happened to be an SMC dancer. She took him to that year’s Synapse Dance Theater. He was hooked. First he took a dance class. Then he changed his major to dance. Looking back, he’s amazed at how much he’s learned and grown in the last four years at SMC.
"seven" is Fine’s visual representation of Dante’s Inferno and the Seven Deadly Sins. The version of Inferno that Fine is drawing from is a video game. In this telling, each of the Seven Deadly Sins is a Game Boss. In Fine’s choreography, there is no Dante, his cast of eight features Beatrice, and one dancer for each of the Deadly Sins. Each dancer was chosen because Fine saw a resonance between their movement style and one of the Deadly Sins, or in Beatrice’s case, because of her strong, graceful ballet technique.
"seven" opens with a cinematic set piece depicting Beatrice’s descent into hell. Fine says he wants to depict a lingering element of danger. To keep us wondering what monstrosity is around the corner. He says, "On a social level, it’s about what we value as a society. About religion and the sometimes archaic though processes we carry with us."
Asked if there would ever be a dance piece inspired by Dante’s Paradiso, Fine said, "no", that as you ascend from Inferno to Purgatorio to Paradiso, it gets less interesting.
Fine expects to finish his dance studies at SMC at the end of 2019 and then transfer to the dance department at Long Beach State University. Once he finishes there, he plans to head off to The Big Apple in hopes of taking his career to the next level. Meanwhile, Fine has started to perform with different dance companies around Los Angeles which has generated some money to help pay rent. He knows dance can be a hard career, and has asked himself, "do I want to be an artist?" But then answers his own question with, "I can’t picture myself behind a desk."
Of his time at SMC, Fine says that "the Dance Department is amazing. I didn’t realize the quality of the teacher’s training. SMC really goes above and beyond offering different styles of training to include behind-the-scenes help with what it takes to be a dancer."
"The SMC Dance Department doesn’t just create strong technical dancers, they also create strong artists and scholars as well. The faculty here work to provide us with the tools we need."
"seven" will be one of eleven works presented at Synapse Dance Theater. The concert will feature works by SMC student choreographers, faculty, and guest artist Jay Carlon on the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25.
1, 2, 3.
Student choreographer Erik Fine (#42) teaches SMC dancers a combination during the auditions for Synapse Dance Theater in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019. The title of Fine’s piece is the number seven written in tally marks. Synapse Dance Theater will feature 11 works by SMC student choreographers, faculty, and guest artist Jay Carlon on the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Student choreographer Erik Fine leads SMC dancers during the first rehearsal for Synapse Dance Theater in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The title of Fine’s piece is the number seven written in tally marks. Synapse Dance Theater will feature 11 works by SMC student choreographers, faculty, and guest artist Jay Carlon on the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC student dancer Marii Kawabata rehearses for Erik Fine’s Synapse Dance Theater piece, titled with the number seven written in tally marks, in the Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Synapse Dance Theater will feature 11 works by SMC student choreographers, faculty, and guest artist Jay Carlon on the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
6, 7.
Student choreographer Erik Fine, in baseball cap, leads SMC dancers during the first rehearsal for Synapse Dance Theater in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The title of Fine’s piece is the number seven written in tally marks. Synapse Dance Theater will feature 11 works by SMC student choreographers, faculty, and guest artist Jay Carlon on the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
8, 9.
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama is held aloft by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing for student choreographer Erik Fine’s new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Student choreographer Erik Fine demonstrates lifting dancer Yurino Niyama in a rehearsal for his new work, titled by the number seven written in tally marks, at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance majors hold Yurino Niyama aloft as student choreographer Erik Fine (in baseball cap) adjusts their movement in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Fine is rehearsing his new work, titled by the number seven in tally marks, which will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama is held aloft by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing for student choreographer Erik Fine’s new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama prepares to be lifted by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing for student choreographer Erik Fine’s new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama shares a light moment after being lifted by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing for student choreographer Erik Fine’s new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
15, 16.
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama is held aloft by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing for student choreographer Erik Fine’s new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks. Fine’s choreography will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
17, 19.
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama (playing Dante’s Beatrice), 19, from Fukuoka, Japan, is held aloft by dancers in a rehearsal at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The dancers are rehearsing a new work by student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, the work is titled by the number seven written in tally marks. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. In this scene Beatrice (Niyama) descends into hell and is entangled by the deadly sins. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
18, 20.
Student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, teaches a movement phrase to dancers in his new work titled by the number seven written in tally marks at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Nicolas Albuja, 23, from Ecuador, (Gluttony) relaxes during a break in rehearsals for "seven", a new work by Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The work is titled by the number seven written in tally marks. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. Albuja plays Gluttony. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, works with SMC dance major Yurino Niyama (playing Dante’s Beatrice), 19, from Fukuoka, Japan, and SMC dance and chemistry major Tiffany Dong (playing Greed), 20, from San Francisco, in a rehearsal for Fine’s new work "seven" at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The work is titled with the number seven written in tally marks. In this section of the dance Beatrice and Greed (Niyama and Dong) dance a duet. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance and chemistry major Tiffany Dong (playing Greed), 20, from San Francisco, and SMC dance major Yurino Niyama (playing Dante’s Beatrice), 19, from Fukuoka, Japan, work on a duet between Greed and Beatrice in a rehearsal for "seven" a new work from student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The work is titled with the number seven written in tally marks. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Mio Kato (playing Envy), 25, from Chiba, Japan, and student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, work on a section of Fine’s new work "seven" at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The work is titled with the number seven written in tally marks. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
SMC dance major Yurino Niyama (playing Dante’s Beatrice), 19, from Fukuoka, Japan, and SMC dance and chemistry major Tiffany Dong (playing Greed), 20, from San Francisco, work on a duet between Beatrice and Greed in a rehearsal for "seven" a new work from student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago, at SMC’s Core Performance Center on Thursday, March 7, 2019. The work is titled with the number seven written in tally marks. "seven" refers to the seven deadly sins and Dante’s Inferno. In Fine’s video game inspired telling, the deadly sins are all game bosses. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Erik Fine
SMC student choreographer Erik Fine, 27, from Chicago stretches for a moment before starting rehearsal for his new work "seven" (the title is the number seven written in tally marks) in a dance studio in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Fine’s choreography is inspired by a video game version of Dante’s Inferno where each of the Seven Deadly Sins is a game boss. "seven," opens with Dante’s Beatrice descending into hell where she encounters the Seven Deadly Sins, each played by a member of Fine’s cast. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Tiffany Dong
SMC dance and chemistry major Tiffany Dong, 20, from San Francisco, rehearses for Erik Fine’s new work "seven" (the title is the number seven written in tally marks) in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Dong’s unique double major of dance and chemistry is because she has suffered from pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs). She’s still pursuing a dance career, but now also wants to be a part of working toward a cure for pulmonary emboli. Fine’s "seven" is based on Dante’s Inferno and follows Beatrice into hell where she encounters the Seven Deadly Sins. Dong performs the role of Greed. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
Marii Kawabata
SMC dance major Marii Kawabata, 22, from Amami Ōshima, Japan rehearses for Erik Fine’s new work "seven" (the title is the number seven written in tally marks) in SMC’s Core Performance Center on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Fine’s "seven" is based on Dante’s Inferno and follows Beatrice into hell where she encounters the Seven Deadly Sins. Kawabata performs the role of Lust. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
IG
Erik Fine and his cast of Santa Monica College (SMC) dancers rehearse for his production of "seven" (the title is the number seven written in tally marks) in SMC’s Core Performance Center in February and March 2019. Fine’s "seven" is based on a video game version of Dante’s Inferno where the Seven Deadly Sins are all Video Game Bosses. The cast of this contemporary dance work includes Beatrice and the Seven Deadly Sins. "seven" will premiere at Synapse Dance Theater at the Broad Stage at SMC’s Performing Arts Center campus on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)
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