Dance company to present spring concert

Students perform during the Purdue University Contemporary Dance Concert. Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Contemporary Dance Company on April 27-28 will present its Spring Works Dance Concert.

The dance company will present seven new selected works by dance faculty, one student and two guest artists. Six of the dances use original sound created by sound students in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts.

“This concert includes glimpses of nature, the physics of cause and effect, the clarity of geometry, a taste of community and a touch of humor,” said Holly Jaycox, a continuing lecturer of dance. “The dance works are accompanied by original music/sound scores created specifically for these dances by students in the Theatre Department’s Sound Design program, with the exception of ‘Shaken not Stirred.’”

There will be a 7:30 p.m. performance each evening along with a 2 p.m. matinee April 28. 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.

Each performance will feature seven dances showcasing original choreography:

* Professor Sally Wallace’s work “Wind Forest” explores the meeting of modern dance with Butoh, a form of dance originating in Japan as part of the avant garde in modern art following World War II.

* “Ricochet” is a new choreographic work from dance instructor Kathleen Hickey. Inspired by the oxidation of copper, it explores cause and effect of movements throughout the body.

* “Untangling Geometry,” choreographed by Renee Murray, visiting assistant professor, is an abstract work that was inspired by the slow evolution of a shifting perspective.

* Dance instructor Mary Beth Van Dyke choreographed “Awake,” a modern dance work featuring nine female dancers exploring joyfulness in a kinetic landscape.

* Kelly Kennedy, a senior majoring in math with computer science and minoring in economics, created a dance called “It’s only a race if you’re losing.” It explores everyday movements taken out of context, as well as the sense of friendly competition that is shared by siblings. This is Kennedy’s second work created on Purdue University Contemporary Dance Company.

* Natasha Davis, a guest artist who spent a week in residence in the Division of Dance in the fall semester, choreographed a new work titled “Shaken not Stirred.” It fuses African and modern dance traditions while celebrating in the dancers’ connections to the earth and to beauty.

* Kate Martel, a guest artist who spent a week in residence in the Division of Dance in February, choreographed a new work titled “Lost of Stolen.” In the construction of this work, dancers were unable to take back the movement choices they made, and original movement material was rearranged to create layers of depth and texture within a space. 

Writer: Kelsey Schnieders Lefever, kschnied@purdue.edu 

Sources: Sally Wallace, chair, division of dance, sallyw@purdue.edu

Karla Welchans, secretary, division of dance and music, kwelchan@purdue.edu 

Media contact: Joe Paul, paul102@purdue.edu