With toes pointed and backs arched, the WKU Dance Company kicked off the semester with their production, Dance Out!

The free outdoor dance concert took place at the colonnades of Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Amphitheatre tonight.

Dance Out! started three years ago to make students aware of other events the company puts on throughout the year.

“We wanted to draw more students and make them aware of what we’re doing before everything gets really busy,” said Carrie Brueck assistant professor of theatre and dance.

Brueck said she can tell that the event is definitely still growing, even with the looming threat of rain each year.

Luckily, the rain clouds passed, the music began and a combination of jazz, ballet and modern dance numbers entertained a crowd of about 150.

Several of the pieces were repeated from Evening of Dance, which is the company’s spring production. Other pieces were briskly put together in a matter of weeks.

“ReHumanize” is a two-part jazz piece about how technology is taking over our lives. The dancers performed the second part where they transform from robots and boogie down as humans again.

Within the midst of bright lights, makeup bags and pre-show chatter, two of the dancers chimed in about their favorite dance numbers to perform.

Bowling Green junior Emily Woosley mentioned “ReHumanize” and “Clifton’s Modern Piece” as two of her favorites. Woosley has been a part of the company and Dance Out! since her freshman year.

“It’s always really hectic because we put the show together in two to three weeks,” she said. “But it’s always a good place to start.”

Jessica Williams, a junior from Memphis, Tenn., said her favorite was the disco piece to Beyoncé’s “One Night Only.”

“I really just like performing, and it (Dance Out!) lets people know we exist,” Williams said. “A lot of people walk by and stop because they want to know what these people are doing.”

Williams has been involved in the company for three years and noticed that many people think WKU just has a dance team.

Nashville sophomore Carmen Van Leer is now aware of the dance company thanks to the event and her improvisation class.

“It was really nice and I hope to see more from them during the year,” Van Leer said. “I really enjoyed the puppet dance because she didn’t have to say much for me realize she was a puppet.

See more of the dance company in the Autumn Dance Project on Oct. 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. and Oct.31 at 3 p.m. The event will take place in the Lab Theatre of Gordon Wilson Hall. Admission is $6.