Beacon Features: PBA alumna prospers in dance

By Samone Davis
Contributing Writer

For multi-talented alumna Elizabeth “Liz” DeMarco, who graduated this past May, her professional career as a dancer starts off at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Theatre Department.

DeMarco fell in love with the arts at a young age.

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., she began acting at age of 10.

She starred in Christmas plays, shows and pageants at church where she found an interest in song and dance.

Student dancers appear in music video directed by PBA alum

Three PBA students, Junior Chiara Casiraghi, sophomore Etta Preist and freshman Tiffany Teate, were recently featured in Christian recording artist Philip LaRue‘s latest music video for his single, “Chasing the Daylight.” The video features LaRue’s band playing the hit song on the beach while the Casiraghi and the other dancers performed some moves on the sand. The video was directed by another local, alum student Noah Carlson. Check it out here!

We recently caught up with Casiraghi to find out what it was like to work on set and how everything came together.

“Being in the video was a lot of fun I really enjoyed every aspect. The rehearsals, going on “set” to see what we would be dancing on, hanging out with Phillip, meeting his wife and baby, and hanging out with all the crew. And I loved the filming because it was so professional and serious, we were all focused on doing our best. The dancing part of the shoot took about one day.

Noah Carlson, the director, got my number from a mutual friend because he wanted dancers and a choreographer. We met and discussed what he was looking for regarding the video. I showed him some videos of me and my choreography. Ultimately it was Phillips who had the final say and I was very happy to have been chosen to work for them”

Photo of the Week: “Cha Cha real smooth now”

There were around 175 people dancing the night away at last night’s Spring Formal, hosted by Student Activities and that held at the Iron Horse Country Club in West Palm Beach. Thanks to event organizer Cheyanne Lent for sending us this picture of the dance floor at the heat of the moment during everyone’s favorite dance, the Cha Cha Line Dance.

Got a picture you would like to share? Send us your best shot to beacon@pba.edu for a chance to get featured on the blog.

Beacon Features: New dance professor to broaden the art of expression

This article first appeared in The Beacon student newspaper on February 23, 2009

By Jen Herring

Iavor Doytchinov, one of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s newest dance professors,  has impressed and inspired his students with his resume, his dance skills and his teaching.

“His teaching methods really work,” said junior Danielle DiPiero. “He is a great example of someone who has worked hard and achieved success.”

That success has included dancing in an upcoming  television commercial for a major American retailer. That company is a household name, though Doytchinov is not at liberty yet to disclose it.  He has other television experience as as well, which has been fun, he said, though there are other accomplishments he’s proud of.