Strap on Your Dancing Shoes!

University Dance Company participants. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
 University Dance Company participants. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

University Dance Company participants.
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

By Amy Lukac
Opinion Editor

5…6…7…8! On Friday, April 17 at 7:00 PM and on Saturday, April 18 at 2:00 PM, the members of the University Dance Company will be presenting their spring program at the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts.

This semi-annual performance will showcase the talents of students, faculty members and guest artists. The dance pieces will include a variety of choreographic styles, including contemporary, modern, jazz, and hip-hop.

The choreographers for the spring performance includes Elizabeth Gibbons, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education, Dance Program Coordinator, and Artistic Director; guest artist, Jessica Batha from Bangor, Pa.; and senior guest artist, Maria Triano, President of PA Dance Network in Analomink, Pa.

Like a piece of art or a poem, each dance tells a different story.

“Wait!” choreographed by Batha, is a coming of age piece about a soldier who wants to stay focused on doing what is right and going off to serve his country. The soldier is distracted by the beauty and fun nature of a young lady and some mischievous helpers. It is a disco routine to the strains of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.”“This dance is fun, and fascinating,” said Gibbons.

Triano choreographs another dance routine, “Universal Voyage,” and this dance will take the audience on a journey into particles, matter, energy, and the cosmos.

“Butterflies,” will be performed on Saturday only by the children from the Community Dance Program, under the direction of guest artist Jessica Batha.

“From the beautiful classical sounds of ‘Carnival of the Animals,’ to the fun, funky hip-hop sounds of ‘Salaam Qing,’ four of the children’s classes have put together an incredible piece,” said Batha.

Another dance among others, “Heart,” choreographed by Rebecca Rehrig, a sophomore majoring in early childhood and special education from Mohrsville, Pa., is about reaching out for help.

“If you keep on reaching and reaching, eventually someone will grab you and pull you back to a safe place – never stop reaching; never lose hope,” she said.

Dance studio owners, their staff, students and families are invited to “Dance Studios Unite Nite” on Friday, April 18.

The group members of a studio can go at a discounted rate of $5 each, with the opportunity to receive a free ticket for every five tickets purchased.

Most importantly, the group must go to the box office to receive this offer.

Not only will there be a performance on Friday night, but it will also feature a post-performance Q & A with the company.

It will be held in Abeloff right after the performance and will provide an opportunity for the audience to get to know performers!.All performances are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at quantum.esu.edu/dance/.

However, tickets will also be sold at the door prior to each performance. Tickets cost $5 for children, students, and senior citizens and $10 for adults.

Email Amy at:
alukac@live.esu.edu