GRANVILLE -- The Denison University Dance Department will present its annual spring student choreographers dance concert at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 18, 19 & 20) in Doane Dance Theatre. There also is a 2 p.m. performance on Saturday (April 20). This year's concert is titled "Conjecture: Seven Original Dances" and presents works that explore personalized genres of dance. General admission is $5, student admission is $2. Reservations may be made by calling (740) 587-6712.

"The Return of Bird Girl," choreographed by Guest Artist Molly Shanahan '90: (l. to r.) Laura Spencer, Ilana Silverstein, Carleen Healy, Eliza Shardlow, Lyndsey Cortese

The concert opens with a short hip-hop inspired work by Yana M. Pegues-McMillan, a senior majoring in Spanish and minoring in dance from Richmond, Va. Inspired by urbanization, it explores the music, fashion and movement of current urban culture. It will be performed by Candice Lewis, Abeje Maolud-Sneed, Sarah Schneider, Casey Schory and Krysten Stringer.

A number by Kori Martodam, "talking, lips together," explores the fluctuating willingness of the dancers to acknowledge and relate to one another and to the audience. As the work progresses, the dancers leave behind their detached attitudes and warm to become full of openness and supportive interaction. A junior from Cincinnati, Martodam is majoring in theatre and minoring in dance. Dancing are Allison Cartmell, Laura Evans, Franklin Grace, Anusha Jogi and Kristie Proffit.

"Kaleidoscope," choreographed and danced by senior Eliza Shardlow, presents the emotional interplay between internal and external expressions of identity. Shardlow, a dance and English double major from St. Paul, Minn., says the work was influenced by concepts of history, symbolism and hope.

Performed to music by The Smashing Pumpkins, "Fragmentation of a Trapped Image" was created as an abstract response to the textures and emotional qualities that are both embodied and incited by the sound. Choreographer Laura Spencer, from Toledo, is a senior double majoring in dance and psychology. The work is danced by Katie Bair, Katie Belpedio, Lyndsey Cortese, Lara Ellinger, Jennifer Kujawa, Aubrey Perlee, Erin Roberts, Sarah Schneider, Casey Schory and Ray Stanley.

Carleen Healy's "Blind Walk Toward a Calm" is a work fueled by the idea of individual and group narrative. This abstract work explores the questions and anxiety surrounding the intangible, origin, and future paths as it investigates interpersonal relationships through proximity and intention. It is performed by Ratna Sheth, Kerry Farrell and Megan Hebert. Healy is a senior dance and English double major from Cincinnati.

Five individual women examine their understanding of mindful dance while capturing a snapshot of moving on Earth in "SNAP," choreographed by Ilana Silverstein, a senior dance major and environmental studies minor from Needham, Mass. Performing this work are Cicely Andree, Emily Culp, Kimberly Nelson, Cassandra Smith and Micah Trapp.

Closing the concert is "The Return of Bird Girl," choreographed by guest artist Molly Shanahan with Michael Estanich and Martha Mulligan, all Denison alumni who recently returned as part of the Provost's Alumni Scholar Series and are members of the MadShak Dance Company, Chicago. The work will be performed by Lyndsey Cortese, Carleen Healy, Eliza Shardlow, Ilana Silverstein and Laura Spencer to original music composed by Kevin O'Donnell. "The Return of Bird Girl" was created during an intensive 10-day process in Chicago this past January and refined during the spring semester.

All of the student choreographers have successfully completed coursework in composition and production.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575