The Journal

Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jennifer Meinhardt Two Webster University students and seven WU alumni helped choreograph dances for the Student and Alumni Dance Concert Nov. 2 on Stage III. The performances, ranging from conventional to eccentric, combined different styles of dance.

Tutus, tangerines and tribal drums were several of the ideas incorporated into the first Student and Alumni Dance Concert. Nine choreographers designed the routines that ranged from traditional ballet to modern movement. The event, attended by more than 150 people, was held Nov. 1 through 3.

"It was pretty amazing," said sophomore Rachel Franklin, an elementary education major and previous member of the dance department. "Dancing was fun, but it's just as exciting for me
to watch."

The concert replaced the Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance Concert, which is held once a semester and choreographed by graduating seniors. However, no dance students were scheduled to graduate in December, so the department designed the student and alumni concert to compensate. Students and alumni submitted ideas to Beckah Voigt, head of the dance program, who evaluated the proposals and followed the progress of each piece as the groups rehearsed.

Choreographers are usually allowed to perform in the show as a last resort, but student choreographers Leslie Dannewitz and Candice Mirra both performed in one piece other than the one they choreographed.

"We weren't chosen. We were the only two that submitted proposals," said Mirra, a junior
dance major.

Dannewitz, a sophomore dance major, choreographed "Pies Occupado" (Spanish for "busy feet"), a combination of salsa and tap. Dannewitz choreographed her routine over the summer, and her group spent two and a half months rehearsing the energetic piece.

Dannewitz said she got the idea from her grandparents, who visit Texas every winter and have told stories of men and women who dance for the audience's attention. Dannewitz said she tried to make the piece as authentic as possible, including the costumes, consisting of vibrant peasant skirts and cropped pants. She also incorporated tap into the routine.

Mirra got the idea for her piece, "Seven Deadly Sins," from a journal entry she wrote while in her sophomore choreography class.

"It was a description of how you can be corrupted," Mirra said.

Mirra attached colored pieces of fabric to seven dancers, using colors to represent the sin and placement to represent what each sin means.

"Every show is different and unique," Mirra said. "It was nice to have the alumni come back."

Seven alumni returned to WU to choreograph a piece for the concert. In "Tangerine Dream," choreographed by WU alumna Wendy Ballard, dancers donned neon wigs and maid uniforms during part one and '80s prom dresses in part two. The dance featured a sparkly and fuzzy tangerine costume. Ballard said she designed the costumes and recruited her friend to construct them.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools