November 17, 2016

Dance company presents winter concert

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Contemporary Dance Company on Dec. 9-10 will present its Winter Works Dance Concert.

The dance company will present seven new selected works by dance faculty and student artists. All the dances use original sound created by Visual and Performing Arts' sound design students.

"This December's performance includes works about relationships of many kinds," said Sally Wallace, professor and chair of the Division of Dance. "The relationship of periodic elements, of musical sounds, and of androids in the future are all inspirations for these original dance works created this semester."

There will be a 7:30 p.m. performance each evening along with a 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 10. The performances will be presented in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre in the Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts. Tickets are $14 for adults, $11 for students and $7 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the Pao Box Office, Ticketmaster, or by phone at 765-494-3933, 800-914-7469.

The dances are:

* A new work titled "elemental," choreographed by dance faculty Melodie Carr, explores elements on the periodic table as they interact.

* Faculty member Carol Cunningham-Sigman's work "ZONE K-22b" is inspired by "space opera," a subgenre of science fiction. The choreography is based on the idea of a group of enigmatic androids undertaking an exploratory mission in an extraterrestrial spacecraft.

* The "Space Between Translations" is a new choreographic work from faculty member Kathleen Hickey. Inspired by conversations and interactions with her dancers, the work explores duets that shift through space, time and partners. 

* "On the Eve of" is an abstract work choreographed by faculty member Renee Murray and was inspired by the original composition created by sound design student Joe Hoskins. His jazz composition features piano, drums, trumpet and bass, which create a melancholy yet tender environment for the performers to inhabit. The dancers explore textures of smooth, sustained, staccato, and quick throughout the piece. Their bodies both accompany and contrast the rhythms and instruments found within the music. 

* Faculty member Mary Beth Van Dyke choreographed "A Hidden Whole." This is a modern work that explores how a sense of community evolves for five women dancers. 

* "Platform" is a new work created by dance faculty member Sally Wallace that investigates the energy and passion in independent journalists. Five dancers convey the drive as well as the fears of such journalists.

* Sara Satterly, a senior with a nursing major and Spanish and dance minors, choreographed "transverse, sagittal." This new work explores the relationships between strangers in a constrained space, such as a busy city. Inspiration for this piece came from the summer Sara spent in Madrid, and her observations of the interactions between people she encountered. 

Writer: Howard Hewitt, 765-494-9541, hhewitt@purdue.edu

Source: Sally Wallace, 765-496-2970, sallyw@purdue.edu 

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