University Dance Company Performs “Zen Mind”

University Dance Company perfroms "Zen Mind" Photo Credit / by Kelly North SC Photography Editor & Asst. News Editor
University Dance Company perfroms "Zen Mind" Photo Credit / by Kelly North SC Photography Editor & Asst. News Editor

By Laura Dildine
SC Editor-in-Chief

On a lovely summer evening, a couple editors and I decided to go see the University Dance Company (UDC) hold their annual performance. Eleven different performances were given at this event, choreographed by a series of different professionals and students. To speak on some of the more memorable dances:

Starting out with “Zen Mind,” choreographed by Maria Triano, the dancers brought out and highlighted the disjunction between keeping calm and stress-free in a stressful world. Full of meditation movements and anguished moves, the dance brought the viewers to question their life and how they live it.

Next, in a loving manner, Elizabeth Gibbons danced to “Daughter’s Waltz.” She managed to convey the sadness and pride that comes with watching your children grow up. Wearing a lovely white dress, she also spoke to the innocence of motherhood.

Natalie Schultz-Kahwaty choreographed and danced in “Do You Say Tomato?” and choreographed “Sensory Overload.” Both pieces had a fun and flirty air to them. “Sensory Overload’s” social commentary really spoke on today’s issues where people are overloaded with media and texting every second of the day.

The most riveting piece in the show was choreographed by Miranda Barbieri, a member of UDC, to the song “Incubus.” Miranda, dressed in a short white gown and holding a teddy bear, began the piece by laying onstage. Deven Dan, completely covered in a red, full-body suit, was the epitome of her nightmares. At one point, Miranda shouted to the crowd, “Help me! Please!” Breaking the wall between the performers and the audience, it was incredibly jarring and thought provoking.

“Incubus was definitely my favorite” Dana Reese, a junior, stated. “I really loved how they broke the fourth wall between the stage and audience and their emotional depth in performance.”
Nicole Malizewski’s “Fauna” was memorable for all the feathers falling off of the performer’s costumes and littering the stage. As animals, especially as humans, we litter the world around us as the performer’s costumes littered the stage around them.

At the end, all the performers got together for a final performance, titled, “Curtain Call.” A fun piece that really proved to show how supportive and together the UDC really is. At one point, the dancers stood in a ‘U,’ and Ms. Reese stated that “This really shows how, even though all the dances were separate, they are still one group, part of the University.” Dressed in sporty UDC  and ESU attire, they really showed their individuality but also their unity.

Well done UDC; you obviously worked hard and it paid off.

Email Laura at:
lmd3517@live.esu.edu