The Journal

Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Ashley Gieseking Webster University dance students perform "The In Crowd Out," choreographed by senior Sandra Struthers, to Marilyn Manson's cover of "Sweet Dreams" at the fall 2006 Choreographic Concert Nov. 2 on Stage III in Webster Hall.

Four years of intense dancing and training finally paid off for three senior dance students.

Bright lights, vivid colors and dancers galore filled Stage III of Webster Hall Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 for the fall 2006 bachelor of fine arts dance Choreographic Concert. The theater had standing room only as the three students each presented their work as candidates for the BFA degree in dance.

Seniors Ashley Illers, Tyne Shillingford and Sandra Struthers each choreographed three dances. The seniors began preparing with choreography proposals for the concert at the end of last semester. The dances included a solo, duet and group piece from each senior. Each piece was choreographed to a song of the student's choice.

The seniors each chose student dancers for their pieces through auditions at the beginning of the semester.

Beckah Voigt, associate professor in the dance department, helped the seniors with their performances.

"I saw each of their rehearsals a minimum of three times during the semester," Voigt said. "But I invited them to invite me to come and help as much as possible."

Shillingford's ensemble piece, "Escape to Freedom," opened the show. The dance featured different types of African dancing and was based on escaping to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Junior Katelyn Minnick, a dance major, performed in Shillingford's ensemble piece. Minnick said she auditioned for the BFAs in August, then was chosen for the piece and practiced twice a week for an hour and a half.

"I loved being in Tyne's piece," Minnick said. "I had taken some African dancing before, but not a lot, so this was a fun challenge."

Shillingford's duet piece featured swing dancing and was titled "Harlem 1936." Her solo piece was called "Mind of Darkness" and symbolized the effects of Alzheimer's Disease.

Each choreographer danced in her own solo piece. The seniors picked two dancers for the duet pieces and seven for the ensembles.

Continued...

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