Dance Now! – the annual dance concert presented by the West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance – will give audiences the opportunity to see a wide array of dance styles and movement studies.

The concert will be held Feb 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center. For tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at 304-293-SHOW.

“Dance Now!” will feature new choreography by WVU dance students, as well as WVU dance faculty members and prestigious guest artists, performed by a cast of 50 students to original lighting and costume designs by Theatre and Dance design faculty and graduate students.

Each year, students in the WVU Dance Program have the opportunity to audition for industry professionals and workshop their pieces for the annual dance concert performances. Eight dancers were chosen this year to be a part of Masterworks Guest Choreographer Adam Barruch’s piece. Barruch’s theme for the piece is the compass, with its eight directions or meridians of space dividing up the stage and giving the dancers defining pathways.

“I look for dancers who have a natural sense of the way I move and an emotional connection to their bodies,” Barruch said. “They may not immediately grasp the complexities of the coordinations perfectly, but I can usually tell very quickly if someone will be able to grasp it. People who are committed to what they do without imposing anything artificial onto the work also catch my eye.”

For the local guest artist selection, Morgantown Performing Arts Academy, under the direction of Robyn Naugle, will be performing a piece representing the wonderful dance talent in the Morgantown area community.

Also featured in “Dance Now!” will be the WVU Irish Step Team, comprised mostly of graduating seniors.

The WVU dancers will perform original choreography by dance students Demiah Edwards, Mercedes Lewis, Hayden Marushi and Rachel Frye, among others.

“All in all, this year’s ‘Dance Now!’ will not disappoint and will continue to present the talent, creativity and passion that our students, faculty and guests continue to bring to our audiences,” said Yoav Kaddar, director of the WVU Dance Program.

“Dance Now!” opens in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and continues Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a closing matinee on Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for the general public and $15 for senior citizens and students. There is a group rate of $10 per ticket for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets are available at http://ticketmaster.com, the CAC or Mountainlair Box Offices, or by calling 304-293-SHOW.

For more information on “Dance Now!” please visit http://theatre.wvu.edu, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

sf/1/27/15

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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