Dance majors display year-end work

Kayla Webley
2004-05-26
The Daily

The UW dance program's annual concert opened last night in Meany Studio Theatre, the first performance in a series of four.

The concert features nine pieces up to 10 minutes long performed and choreographed by UW undergraduate students.

"This is a showcase for the students' work," said Jurg Koch, artistic director for the concert. "It is a very rich and diverse program."

According to Koch, the performances feature more than 40 dance students, including nine graduating seniors who choreographed the pieces.

"The pieces draw from entertainment sections, like tap," said Koch. "Other influences include visual art using video projections and pieces that are of contemporary modern dance practices.

"Another piece draws from South American pieces, which are mixed to create new meaning and a personal statement."

The performance series offers an unusual opportunity for dance majors to communicate their ideas with dancers and collaborators and to see them performed.

"This is a great opportunity for dance students to actually experience performing as part of their course here," said Koch. "[Students] are in charge of putting together the whole concept for their piece and carrying it forward. They are not often able to have dancers at their disposal and carry out a concept, including finalizing it with sound, light and then present it. They take away the experience and show this is something they can do."

The show offers diversity in its performance types.

"I hope that [the audience] can appreciate the diversity of what they are seeing," said Koch. "There is something for everyone there. It is a way for people to find what they like and if they don't like it, it won't last forever. And if they do like something, they can find it again."

The series runs until Friday. Tickets are available in advance for $9, or $7 for students through the UW Arts ticket office.