Theatre Arts and Dance Presents Elevated Movements: An Original Faculty-Choreographed Concert

Published: February 23, 2016 | Read Time: 3 minutes

From a reconstruction of a classic ballet to the vibrant joys of modern, discover the captivating power of dance as it engages and inspires. SUU’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance presents Elevated Movements: An Original Faculty-Choreographed Dance Concert at the Randall L. Jones Theatre. Running February 24, 25, 26, 27 and 29 at 7:30pm with a special matinee on February 27 at 2pm, tickets are Adults: $10.00; SUU Alumni with card: $8.00; Student & Youth: $5.00; and SUU faculty, staff and students are admitted free with a valid I.D. All seats are general admission.

Kay Andersen, Department of Theatre Arts and Dance Chair, enthusiastically anticipates this year’s faculty dance concert, “Elevated Movements will engage and inspire with a variety of dance experiences created by the talented SUU faculty and guest artist. The evening will also celebrate our dance heritage with a work created by Burch Mann. Adding to this quality experience will be over fifty students performing throughout the concert.” 

Assistant Professor Patricia Meredith creates Strange Settling with music by Ben Hoff, the piece focuses on a group of unearthly females whose existence is disrupted. Meredith also reconstructs sections of Giselle. Featuring music by Adolphe Adam, this reconstruction centers on scenes of the heroine’s betrayal and afterlife rescue of her beloved. Featuring music by modern composer, Philp Glass from his “String Quartet No. 5” performed by the Kronos Quartet, Megan Brunsvold, Assistant Professor of Dance, created an exciting new work titled, Tidal.  Choreographing without music, Kay Andersen has produced a piece about communication using rhythmical tap sounds and vocals. Assistant Professor Denise Purvis has created Birds of Paradise with the British/American traditional folk rock duo, Blackmore’s Night, as the music. This fluid quartet includes video elements that interact with the choreography. Adjunct dance instructor Rachel Holman has created two works for the concert, Perpetual Motion and Bottled Frustration that round out the evening of faculty work.

A special highlight of Elevated Movements is a piece created by guest artist Joanna Kotze who received the 2013 New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer. Her choreography has been presented at Baryshnikov Arts Center, American Dance Institute (ADI), Danspace Project, Bard College’s Fisher Center, Jacob’s Pillow and Dance New Amsterdam to name a few. In February 2016, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa will present Kotze’s evening-length piece It Happened It Had Happened It Is Happening It Will Happen. Kotze has created Variations on a Finale specifically for SUU students and the department is thrilled to have her work part of the concert.

Remaining an important tradition, Elevated Movements continues to celebrate the work of dance pioneer Burch Mann and her acclaimed American Folk Ballet. This year, Lise Mills has reconstructed Unfenced Land that has become a signature piece from Mann’s company’s repertoire. 

Enjoy the power of dance by attending Elevated Movements. For tickets, call or visit the Centrum Arena box office at (435) 586-7872, Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm or order online at www.suu.edu/pva/. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. This performance is a CPVA Flex Pass event.

The Theatre Arts and Dance Series concludes its season in April when it presents the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical RENT.      

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