A West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance professor will choreograph more than the audience will see at the annual “Dance Now!” concert Feb. 2-4. He’ll also direct the behind the scenes efforts for the production, collaborate with another school and work with local choreographers.
“The dancers take to the stage, but there is much more that goes into this production,” said General Hambrick, assistant professor of dance and director of the production. “Our design and technical students have invested many hours into costume, lighting and sound design to bring each dance to life.”
“Dance Now!” gives WVU students the opportunity to work in a professional environment, honing their performance skills and developing their ability to create in a collaborative effort between performer, choreographer and designer.
According to Hambrick, his vision for the performance was to involve the Morgantown dance community as a benefit to WVU student dancers.
“I always knew if I ever got the opportunity to direct ‘Dance Now!’ I wanted to use as many local choreographers as I could,” Hambrick said. “By using local choreographers we create opportunities for our students to work with the professional companies near Morgantown, which bridges the gap between education and future employment.”
Student choreographers showcased in the performance were selected by outside adjudicators along with the dance faculty from a pool of works created in the fall. Since then, a multi-disciplinary team has worked to create a professional production.
Guest choreographers for the show are Donald Laney, artistic director of West Virginia Dance Co.; Angela Dennis, artistic director of Alchemy Dance Co.; and Dan Karasik, artistic director of Morgantown Dance Co. WVU dance faculty choreographing the show include Mauren Kaddar and Yoav Kaddar.
“The diversity in choreographers gives the students opportunities to experience a variety styles that vary from modern to classical forms,” Hambrick said. “This teaches our students what it might be like to work in repertory companies, picking up choreography quickly in an intensive rehearsal process.”
In addition to WVU student pieces, students from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, choreographed by Harald Lender, will perform classical etudes to open the show.
The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2-3 and 2 p.m. Feb. 4.
Tickets are available through the WVU Box Office at 304.293.SHOW or by visiting Ticketmaster.
-WVU-
jg/1/19/17
CONTACT: Bernadette Dombrowski, College of Creative Arts
304.293.3397; Bernadette.Dombrowski@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.