University News
Spring Gala Dance Concert April 24-26
April 17, 2003
MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University students and faculty in the University Dance Theatre (UDT) will present the annual Spring Gala Dance Concert at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 24-26 in the Brophy Hall Studio Theatre.
An informal benefit concert will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 27. A donation, which will go to Habitat for Humanity of McDonough County, is requested for admission.
The Spring Gala Concert will include contemporary pieces choreographed by UDT students, faculty and two guest artists.
UDT president Jenny Showalter, a senior physical education major from Aurora, has choreographed one of seven student pieces for the concert. Featuring 12 dancers, Showalter said: "I am experimenting with using the entire stage, allowing the audience to see the light trees and off stage space that they normally do not see."
Showalter was among 11 WIU dancers who recently participated in the Northwest Regional American College Dance Festival (ACDF) in Bellingham, WA. Her dance about suicide, choreographed last year; and a work by UTD co-director Candace Winters-March, inspired by a poem by C. S'Thembile West, an assistant professor in Western's African American Studies department, were among adjudicated works at the ACDF. The work by Winters-March will also be presented in the Spring Gala.
"Our dancers received nice comments from the adjudicators for their work in my piece and in Jenny's piece," said Winters-March.
Student choreographers with pieces in the concert include Debi Travis, a senior communication major from Glenview; Kristine Schroeder, a senior Spanish major from Crystal Lake; Lindsey Becker, a senior elementary education major from Algonquin; Ashley Weitman, a senior psychology major from Naperville; Megan Duesterhaus, a senior sociology major from Quincy; and Kami Heckle, a senior individual studies major from Quincy.
UDT will also present pieces inspired by two professional choreographers who served weeklong guest artists residencies at Western this year: Orlando Scheker, director of Mexicos National School of Contemporary Dance, was on campus in February teaching contemporary, traditional Hispanic and Latin-American dance. New York dancer/choreographer Art Bridgman taught students about partnering and art of duet dancing.
Winters-March and co-director Heidi Clemmens have guided Western's dance program to national recognition with an invitation-only appearance at the 1998 and 2000 American College Dance Festival National Gala.
Tickets for the Spring Gala will be available at the door. Admission is $5 for the public, $3 for students and seniors and $2 for ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. For more information, call 309-298-2116 or 298-1981.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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