Dance department offers two performances this week

A performance is presented during WKU’s Theatre and Dance Department on Jan. 16, 2014. The annual WinterDance is set to be held on Nov. 17-19, 2017 in Van Meter Hall.

Laurel Deppen

Dance students have been rushing, reeling and rehearsing all semester long to bring two performances to WKU students.

Focused on seasonal traditions, “WinterDance” is a family-oriented production that aims to bring the holiday spirit to its viewers. It features a wide variety of dance techniques such as ballet, jazz and modern. Students dance as many familiar holiday characters to recreate the warm feelings of the Christmas season.

Louisville junior Lilly Comstock stressed the importance of “WinterDance” and how she hopes their hard work will pay off.

“We’ve put so much work into all of this,” Comstock said.”Basically this is all of our semester combined into three days. It’s also really good to get you into the holiday spirit. Who doesn’t love coming to the theatre?”

Comstock will also be participating in the dance program’s “Last Chance to Dance” production.

“Last Chance to Dance” is a student run performance focused on showcasing the variety of student talents in the theatre and dance department. From choreography to performance, nearly everything is created by the students.

“We’re just skimming the surface of what our ranges and possibilities are as choreographers,” Comstock said. “This is the first little glimpse of what is to come and there’s some really good stuff in the show and a lot of creativity.”

Comstock choreographed a piece that will be featured in the production. She received a Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement grant and traveled to Israel to study Gaga, a movement language centered on the healing and changes in movement.

Comstock described her performance as one focused on individualism.

“I’m wanting the person to just really explore their own body and their movement that they’re comfortable with, their own timing and phrasing and internal stuff … I just wanted them to feel good doing it and enjoy dancing with each other. I wanted a light, not so serious or dramatic, dance,” Comstock said.

Shyama Iyer, a musical theatre major and a dance minor, also coordinated an Indian classical dance called Alaripu, which translates to “the blooming flower.” Iyer has been practicing Indian classical dance for most of her life.

Iyer spoke on the value of the “Last Chance to Dance” performance and why it is important to not only the dance program but to all students.

“It’s really great to see the creative minds of our peers and to see the work they can create,” Iyer said.”Keep in mind, this is student choreographed and student performed so there are no faculty really involved. Just to see that kids our age can create such cool things — new, different, kind of revolutionary movement.”

Louisville junior Hunter Mayfield emphasized the uniqueness of the performance.

“It’s very much student-run,” said Mayfield.”They make the programs, they decide their music, they decide who they want to cast, they decide when their rehearsals are going to be. They really put it all together.”

“WinterDance” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at wku.showare.com or at the door. Student tickets are $12 and regular admission is $15.

“Last Chance to Dance” will be performed at 7 p.m. Monday and admission is free.

Both performances will be held in Van Meter Hall.

Reporter Laurel Deppen can be reached at 270-745-2655 and [email protected].