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| | SPACE Presents Synergy
Local Students Bridge Cultures in Synergy: A Collaborative Performance at SPACE Theater
UKIAH, CA — This April, sixty teen students from two distinct educational traditions will take the stage together to present Synergy, a powerful showcase of artistic and cultural exchange.
The performances will be held at the SPACE Theater (508 W. Perkins, Ukiah) on Friday, April 24 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Synergy brings together students from SPACE (School of Performing Arts and Cultural Education) and the Buddhist School Instilling Goodness Developing Virtue School (IGDVS). Through a dynamic program of dance, singing, Chinese instruments, poetry, and presentations in both English and Chinese students from both schools will perform their unique artistic traditions through the lens of modern creativity.
The production is conceived and coordinated by Jin Jr Shi, Principal of Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary Schools and Laurel Near, SPACE Executive/Artistic Director and Co-Founder.
“Through shared performances, students find common ground,” say the organizers. “Synergy is more than a show; it is a celebration of how the arts can bridge different backgrounds, styles and inspire a shared sense of community.”
The diverse repertoire is the result of dedicated instruction from a combined faculty of both schools, including: Pearl Marill, Aisha Walls, Julie An, Jeanette Wise, Laitheng Leong, Kara Starkweather, Dreama Duncan, Casey Frey, and Emma Van Patten.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 18, and are available at The Mendocino Book Company (cash or check), Brown Bear Toys (cash or check) and the SPACE Box Office. The SPACE Theater is located at 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah. For more information, call 462-9370 or visit www.spaceperformingarts.org.
The community is invited to witness this inspiring collaboration and support the creativity of Ukiah’s youth.
Generously supported by The Arlene & Michael Rosen Foundation. | Buy Tickets |
| | SPACE Presents Forces of Nature
Over 100 Local Students Take the Stage in Original Dance Production Forces of Nature
Ukiah, CA —May 2026 — Originally written in 2016 by Laurel Near and Amanda Rosenberg now re-written and directed by Amanda Rosenberg-Gutierrez.
The performances will be held at the SPACE Theater (508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah) on Friday, May 22 at 6:00 PM, Saturday, May 23 at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 PM.
More than 100 young performers ages 6 to 17 will take the stage this May in an original full-length dance production titled Forces of Nature, a powerful exploration of how the elements of the natural world mirror human emotion.
Blending street dance, hip hop, modern dance, jazz, spoken word, and live vocals, Forces of Nature moves through wind, rain, roots, fire, pressure, love, release, and renewal — revealing how nature’s cycles reflect our own inner landscapes.
“Nature doesn’t just surround us — it lives within us,” says the show’s director. “Through movement, these students explore themes like community, resilience, passion, belonging, and growth. It’s about understanding that the same forces that shape mountains and oceans also shape who we are.”
The show opens with a spoken word piece and live percussion heartbeat, symbolizing the shared pulse of humanity. Throughout the evening, dancers move through explosive hip hop sequences, lyrical modern works, and emotionally charged ensemble pieces, culminating in a full-cast finale celebrating unity and connection.
At its core, the production carries a timely message: pressure builds, storms pass, and from fire comes renewal. In nature, nothing truly ends — it transforms. The same is true for us.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 18, and are available at The Mendocino Book Company (cash or check), Brown Bear Toys (cash or check), online at www.spaceperformingarts.org and the SPACE Box Office. The SPACE Theater is located at 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah. For more information, call 462-9370 or visit www.spaceperformingarts.org.
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