Student dance company tackles
range of subjects, issues
Emory Dance Company's spring concert, a showcase of new works by Emory
students studying choreography under the direction of dance professors Sally
Radell and Wayne Smith along with several guest artists, will be held April
23-25 in the Mary Gray Munroe Theater.
The show, "Knock, Breathe, Shine & Seek," comprises seven
group pieces that involve exploration, whether it be introspection, experimentation
with movement or examination of human relationships, internal conflict and
metaphorical journeys.
- Joseph Amaya has drawn inspiration from the photography of Richard
Kern, the novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the film Prospero's Books
and the video to Daft Punk's song Around the World to create a work of
unpredictable, sometimes quirky choreography for his introspective piece,
"Parisian Sunrise."
- Marsha Amin's "Tintillating Blues" celebrates the melding
of her Indian and American heritage and examines the possibility of choosing
between the two.
- Melissa Bezonsky uses student interaction with the dance studio swivel
chair as a metaphor for addiction in her piece "Reflections on Humanity,
Addiction...and a Swivel Chair" set to music by Cujo. "The 'drug'
we choose, be it a narcotic, an action or a feeling, affects us deeply,"
Bezonsky said. "We can become numb and mechanical or vibrant and superhuman.
The dance is a study of these characteristics of addiction."
- Autumn Ford has choreographed "Nostalgia" purely to demonstrate
beautiful movement. She creates an introspective mood through the use of
inward movement and contractions.
- Becky Gauchman's untitled piece, set to music by Pink Floyd, is rich
with images. The deeply personal piece translates her journey from childhood
to college into movement.
- Courtney King's "Protection" is a modern piece with an Eastern
flavor, set to music by Renato Gallina and Matthew Skarajew, that strives
to depict the concept of purification. King's choreography employs linear
and curved shapes-both spatially and with dancers' bodiesand
combines full body movement with neutral gestures to create an interesting,
ever-changing stage picture.
- Ayanna Shamese Williams' piece, "Disconnection," grew out
of the pulse of drum and bass music by 4 Hero. Through her choreography
Williams explores "the relationship of movement motifs, such as rebound
and speed, and layers them with the music."
All shows will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 general admission; $5 for
Emory faculty and staff, artists, and senior citizens; $4 for students.
For information or to order tickets, call 404-727-5050.
-Deb Hammacher
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