The end of the semester means piles of academic work to catch up on, hours of lost sleep, beach weekends, formals, and of course, the Dance Company's Spring Student Choreographic Dance Concert. This is always a favorite show for the students because the choreographers are students. It's designed and danced by the members of the company. You never know what you'll see each year, and this year's production is especially a show-stopper.
You can see a variety of dancing styles within the ten works: including contemporary ballet, jazz, tap, and even hip-hop. Here’s your sneak preview of the show:
The concert kicks off (no pun intended) with Gabi Navarro’s piece Drifter, which highlights the Dance Company’s strongest ballet dancers. Her piece, as she describes it, is about,
"...Goodbyes. It’s about finding ways to let go in a manner that leaves one at peace with their loss and yearning. Whether you're someone saying goodbye to a place, a departing friend – or even a passing family member, the message I want to convey is that the spirit of that place or person, remains in our minds, and resides with those we touch – goodbye is never really goodbye."
The piece opens on a trio, danced by Isabelle Vail, Emily Eisert, and Alexa Modica, and sets the overall reflective tone. The piece, which is dedicated to a family friend of Navarro's, is simple on the surface, but the magic of the emotion is displayed within the details such as the subtle hang gestures made by the dancers or the formations of the ensemble. There is no better way to start the show!
The emotion doesn't stop there. Luke Gabriel, another senior dancer and a member of the Momentum Crew, crafted a piece with a combination of dancers: articulate hip-hoppers contrasted with graceful ballerinas. The inspiration for his work was,
“Derived by the emotions and connections that we feel everyday. The main focus is on past relationships and how we sometimes reminisce and catch some feels for how those people made us feel. Properly titled "Planet Ex," this piece follows our journey through life in space. As we pass by Planet Ex we catch the feels for those we once were involved with. Planet Ex is a lonely planet and one we have to pass by to get to the final destination of our journey…Interwoven movements between the two should be a realization for how dance styles can be blended and provide the same amount of emotion and aesthetic appeal."
It's an interesting contrast to see the segmented style of the hip-hop dancers followed by the fluidity of the ballet dancers. However, this contrast between two very distinct styles balance each other out.
Rachel Bradley premiered her very first piece during last year's Concert. She's back this year with a brand new piece that connects to emotions about senior year.
Bradley states,
"I remember running barefoot through glowing green grass on a Sunday afternoon, having been outside for so long in the warm sun that things started to feel a little hazy. I remember gradually losing my ability to play freely as I grew older and now I find myself reflecting on how different ‘play’ looks in my life. As you grow to become the person you are as a citizen of humanity, opportunities to move through the world free of care become less and less available. I hope in this work you find a bright playfulness and a youthfulness, complimenting the nostalgia that we all feel when we reminisce on the times in our lives when play was central...this thing that we’ve (referring to her cast) made together has become the perfect way for me to bid Wake Forest goodbye."
The piece is playful, delicate and shows off a variety of dancers from the company.
The show closes on a colorful note. Courtney Mason, a senior in the dance company as well, created a work that is uplifting, energetic and inspirational--a good show closer.
She said, “My work in contemporary dance explores what it is to brush up against those moments of uncertainty in close relationships that ask us to lean in and the euphoric relief that follows.”
It's the perfect piece to end such an incredible showcase!
The show opens April 21st and runs through the 24th. The evening performances (20th-23rd) begin at 7:30 p.m. and the matinee shows begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Tedford Theater. You can buy tickets at the theater's box office or order online (http://click4tix.com/wfu/).
