WVU s Orchesis Dance Ensemble will celebrate its 74th anniversary in 2002 with a spring concert that promises to be a magnificent celebration of dance.
In addition to modern, ballet and jazz dance choreography by faculty and students, the concert will feature the world premiere of”Nine in Time”by John Pennington, the dance programs 2001 artist-in-residence.
Under the artistic direction of Professor Mary Kathryne (Kacy) Wiedebusch and Assistant Director Carole Wiedebusch, the concert will be held Thursday through Sunday, March 7-10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Creative Arts Centers Gladys B. Davis Theatre. The performance on Sunday, March 10, will be a 2 p.m. matinee.
The concert will offer a selection of music and dance such as modern, lyrical, contemporary ballet, jazz stylization, and theatre movement.
This years pieces will present the music of Mozart, Led Zeppelin, Alicia Keys, Destinys Child, Aerosmith, Shawn Colvin, Jill Scott, Fat Boy Slim, Evelyn Glennie, and Glen Velez, among others.
Professor Kacy Wiedebusch, who is coordinator of the dance program in the College of Creative Arts, founded the artist-in-residence program, which has been a major catalyst in the professional development of students studying dance at WVU . Each year since 1978, an artist of national reputation has been in residence at WVU to create new work and to teach and inspire students.
John Pennington served as artist-in-residence at WVU last fall, where he worked with dance classes, and conducted choreography workshops. Pennington holds degrees from Northwestern University and the California Institute of the Arts. He serves on the faculty at Pomona College and performs with the American Repertory Dance Company. While at WVU , he worked with students in various classes, including technique and composition, introduction to dance techniques, and modern jazz. He also conducted choreography sessions with the Orchessis Dance Ensemble.
“Its important for students to have the opportunity to study with guest artists in order to incorporate new styles and new techniques into their training,”Wiedebusch said.
In addition to Penningtons work, the concert will feature ten other pieces by WVU faculty and choreographers, including:”Torn,”by Rhysa Anderson;”Conversations with Mozart,”by Carole and Kacy Wiedebusch;”Unresolved,”by Jenny Dean;”Fallen,”and”Pulse,”by Amber Anderson;”Serenity,”by Erica Sobczak;”Spectrum,”by Amber Warner;”Divertimento,”by Jaimi Molinelli;”Volanti Assai,”by Sharon Butcher, who was the artist-in-residence in 2000; and a theatre movement piece called”Hostile Movements,”by Jessica Morgan, who is assistant professor of movement in the Division of Theatre and Dance.
“Hostile Movements”will feature WVU theatre students performing to the music”Green Mind”by Dink. It is a piece about hate crimes, which are acts of violence directed against people because of their racial, religious, ethnic, gender, or sexual identity. The students performing in this piece will be: Beau Bowden, Patrick Cole, Kelly Emrich, Dan Forsythe, Kristen Herbert, Dan Higbee, Katie Lawrence, and Jackie Vaughn.
Students in the Orchesis Dance Ensemble include: Amber Anderson, Rhysa Anderson, Ashley Charlton, Emily Danzer, Brittney Day, Jenny Dean, Jessica Mitko, Cory Pavlik, Erica Sobczak, Sarah Smith, Jessica Stroech, Amber Warner, Jackie Cain, Brianna Biro, Ashlie Bryan, Jennifer Narus, Carolyn Romano, Jennifer Bennett, Lindsay Gronell, and Stephanie Marshall.
Members of the Orchesis Dance Ensemble will attend the Mid-Atlantic Regional College Dance Festival of the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) during March 23-26, 2002. Professor Kacy Wiedebusch is a founding member of the association. During the festival, to be held at the University of Maryland at College Park, the students will study all forms of dance and will perform and be adjudicated at the festivals annual gala concert.
Advance tickets for the WVU dance concert are available at the Mountainlair and CAC Box Offices by calling (304) 293-SHOW (7469). Advance sales and organizations will have a special discount.
For more information, contact the Dance Office at (304) 293-8623 or (304) 293-2020, Ext. 3120.