West Virginia Universitys Orchesis Dance Ensemble celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2003 with a spring concert that also celebrates the physical and spiritual art forms of modern, ballet and jazz dance, while exploring the new possibilities of movement theatre.

In addition, the concert will feature the world premiere of”If Only�€�”by Alan Sener, the dance programs 2002 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, Feb. 13-16, in the CreativeArtsCenters Gladys B. Davis Theatre. The performance on Sunday, Feb. 16, will be a 2 p.m. matinee. All other performances are at 7:30 p.m.

The concert offers a selection of music and dance such as modern, lyrical, classical ballet, jazz, African with modern, and theatre movement.

This years pieces will present the music of Carlos Santana, David Byrne, Victoria Williams, Glen Velez, Kate Bush, Bjork, Luigi Boccherini, Billy Joel, Island Pork Quango and the soundtrack of”Moulin Rouge.”There will also be an original composition by Daniel Janke, in collaboration with faculty member Zelma Badu-Younge, and another by WVU student Robert Jameson.

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.

“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.

Alan Sener, who is associate professor of dance at the University of Iowa and artistic director of the Falco Repertory in New York City, served as artist-in-residence at WVU last fall, where he worked with dance classes, and conducted choreography workshops. He was also artist-in-residence at WVU in 1999.

Sener was principal dancer with the Louis Falco Dance Company from 1978 to 1983 and performed extensively in theatres and on television throughout the world. He served for 15 years as Louis Falcos choreographic assistant on feature films, music videos, television commercials and for the creation and reconstruction of Falco ballets for many of the worlds leading dance companies.

In 1993 Sener became artistic director of The Falco Repertory and continues to stage the late choreographers work internationally. He has conducted master classes and choreography workshops worldwide. In addition, he has choreographed national television commercials, music videos and feature films.

In addition to Seners work, the concert will feature 11 other pieces by WVU faculty and choreographers, including:”Las Mujeres Bonitas,”by Jenny Dean;”A Life in the Day (of Alyce),”by Jessica D. Morgan, WVU associate professor of dance movement;”Lovestruck After Midnight,”by Amber Warner;”Mia Woezo (“You Are Welcome”in Ewe language),”by Zelma Badu-Younge;”Nine In Time,”by John Pennington, a Los Angeles choreographer and dancer who was the 2001 WVU artist-in-residence;”LAnimee Petite Ballet (The Spirited Little Ballet),”by Alison A. Cox;”My Journey to Vegas,”by Erica Sobczak;”Primal Effect,”by Rhysa Anderson;”This Moment,”by Ashlie Bryan and Emily Danzer; and”Big Man on Mulberry St.”by Carole Wiedebusch.

“A Day in the Life (of Alyce)”is a theatre movement piece featuring WVU theatre students Max Arnaud, Kelly Emrich, Mark Friedman, Bailey Kinslow, Christian Martorano, Fe Mundy, Katie Rood, Kara Upton, Jackie Vaughn and Evie White.

Students in the Orchesis Dance Ensemble include: Rhysa Anderson, Karla Atkins, Amber Bauer, Jennifer Bennett, Brianna Biro, Ashlie Bryan, Jackie Cain, Ashley Charlton, Emily Danzer, Brittney Day, Jenny Dean, P.J. Green, Laura Gronell, Lindsay Gronell, Andrea Hidock, Shakira Martin, Jessie Mitko, Billy Nester, Amanda Reagan, Carolyn Romano, Erica Sobczak, Crystina Sowell, Jessie Stoech, Andrea Tetrick, Kara Upton, Lindsey Visnic and Amber Warner.

The Orchesis Dance Ensemble was founded in 1928-29 with a nucleus of young women who were experimenting with a new dance form called”creative dance,”offering the opportunity of free expression with the body as the instrument of interpretation, according to Kacy Wiedebusch.

“The Ensemble has grown and known many forms to its present college company of talented young men and women,”she said.

Wiedebusch has been artistic director of the Orchesis Dance Ensemble for the past 46 years, and she has directed and produced a dance concert at WVU during each of those years. She was also the driving force in the creation of the E. Moore Hall Dance Studio, built in 1960 on WVU s downtown campus.

Wiedebusch has received two national awards for her commitment to dance on the collegiate/national level and has been honored as a founding member of the American College Dance Festival Association. She founded the WVU Artist-in-Residence Program in 1978 and her ongoing success with 26 national and international artists has brought recognition to the WVU dance program.

Members of the Orchesis Dance Ensemble are the top students currently studying for a minor in dance at WVU . Initiated in 2000, the minor in dance currently has 115 students from across the University.

Advance tickets for the WVU dance concert are available at the Mountainlair Box Office by calling (304) 293-SHOW (7469). Advance sales and organizations will have a special discount.

For more information, contact the Dance Office at (304) 293-862