Evening of Dance
Russell H, Miller Theatre, FAC
April 20-23, 2023
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm
Sunday Matinee, 2pm
On Demand: May 5-7, 2023
The Western Kentucky University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues to flourish on the hill as the only institution in Kentucky accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. You can see the WKU Dance Program in action as they conclude their season with their performance of Evening of Dance, featuring the WKU Dance Company performing an inspiring variety of ballet, jazz, modern, and tap dance choreography. Audiences of all ages will be intrigued by the skill and artistry displayed through this artistic and profound dance concert.
This annual concert includes an array of dance styles and genres from classical to contemporary choreography created by WKU dance faculty and nationally acclaimed guest artists. Work included in this year’s concert ranges from a sentimental ensemble tap dance featuring the students’ individual stories to a modern group work capturing the idea of the space between light and darkness. The concert features two ballet works including an excerpt from La Bayadere, a classical choreography choreographed by Marius Petitpas and set by dance faculty Roberto Sifontes, and a contemporary ballet piece, Suite for Six, choreographed by Assistant Professor Anna Patsfall. Primal, choreographed by Professor Amanda Clark, is an energizing and fast-paced jazz dance performed by 13 dancers. This work depicts that inner desire to be both part of a group yet to maintain self-autonomy and control and reflects this conflict through rhythmical and dynamic jazz dance movements and tricks that follow a tribalistic beat. This year’s Evening of Dance also features a student piece. Senior dance major Lauren Gore’s work Ame Purdue is about living in and reflecting upon the past. Gore’s work also had the privilege of being taken to the adjudicated performance at the Southeast Region American College Dance Association conference in March. From classical to pop music, lighthearted to abstract themes, there are sure to be pieces to entertain and mesmerize all audiences.
A highlight of this year’s concert is a work choreographed by national guest artist Richard Ashworth. His choreography is supported by the WKU Mahurin Honors College and the WKU Potter College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grants. Ashworth is a dance educator, choreographer, and performer interested in technical foundation and corresponding social cultures. He has performed and choreographed for many companies such as Chicago Dance Crash, and Chicago Tap Theatre. After receiving his Master of Fine Arts in dance in 2021 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he now lectures at UWM and Carthage College, while continuing dance-based community outreach through Danceworks MKE. He has chosen to set a high-energy, whimsical tap and hip-hop fusion piece on the company featuring a bloom of jellyfish, crashing waves, and silly sea creatures. The WKU Dance Company enjoyed having Ashworth on campus for the guest residency where he taught master classes and created and rehearsed his original choreography with the dancers.
The WKU Dance Company, the resident dance ensemble of the Department of Theatre & Dance, is composed of 37 dance majors and minors. Faculty and students began working on this concert in January and view it as the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication. The concert length is approximately 90 minutes. Performances will occur in Russell Miller Theatre within the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center on the WKU Bowling Green campus. Performances run April 20-23, 2023, at 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance at wku.showare.com or at the door.
The WKU Dance Program invites high school students interested in the WKU Dance Program to participate in the Spring Dance Day, held on Sunday, April 23rd. Applications are also open for the WKU Summer Dance Intensive. The intensive is designed to aid intermediate to advanced dancers (grades 9-12) in becoming “thinking artists.” Dancers will have the opportunity to study techniques such as ballet, jazz, and modern dance, along with coursework such as pointe, tap, dance improvisation, dance history, and world dance forms. Daily discussions and events will highlight special interest topics designed to help prepare and inspire the pre-professional dancer. The intensive will culminate in a performance featuring university faculty and guest artist choreography. The week-long program will offer dancers the unique opportunity to explore college-level dance and all of what the WKU Dance Program has to offer. For more information about the Dance Program and events, visit https://www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance/.
Ticket Information:
April 20-23, 2023
Russell H. Miller Theatre, FACThursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm CST
Sunday at 2pmAdults $16
Students/Seniors (62+) $12
wku.showare.com
Digital Concert On Demand:
May 5-7, 2023
On Demand Ticket: $12 + fee
TICKETS FOR DIGITAL CONCERT MUST BE PURCHASED HERE: https://bit.ly/WKUDigitalSeason
-submitted by WKU Department of Theatre & Dance
