The WKU Dance Company brought an eclectic dance performance to the Russell H. Miller Theater on the opening night of Evening of Dance on Thursday.
Evening of Dance is an annual series of dance recitals performed by WKU Dance Company, choreographed by WKU dance faculty and guest artists. The show ran from April 24 to April 26, with $16 tickets for general audiences and $5 tickets for students.
This year’s guest choreographers were Katherine Kramer, a nationally acclaimed tap dancer, and Yohanna Escamilla, an award-winning Flamenco dancer. Both dancers provided original choreography in their respective fields.
The performance featured a wide array of dances, drawing from styles such as ballet, Flamenco, jazz, modern and tap. Some choreography used props, as dancers balanced on tree stumps, flew fabrics through the air and danced around tables and chairs.
“I’m so grateful for how welcoming, hardworking, and open everyone was throughout the process,” Escamilla said in an Instagram post on April 2. “The energy, dedication, and willingness to dive into something new meant so much to me.”
Performers shared Escamilla’s enthusiasm for the event, and found it to be a valuable experience.
“As a collective, I think we can all say we worked really, really hard for this,” said Olivia Massey, a sophomore dance and visual studies major who performed in Evening of Dance. “This past week we had some trial and error, but I think we really came through in the end.”
Carroll Ann Shackleford, a junior dance and psychological sciences major who also performed in Evening of Dance, hopes the performance will help spread further appreciation for the performing arts.
“It’s such a valuable aspect of creativity, and such a physical and emotional experience,” Shackleford said. “I think it’s really important for students, peers and teachers to all experience it.”
Tess Fowler, a sophomore majoring in dance and communication disorders, shared Shackleford’s sentiment of spreading the art to others.
“We want people to see the show because we want them to be exposed to our art form,” said Fowler. “Not because we want an audience, but because it’s something worth seeing.”
