Choreography Event To Showcase Dance Students’ Work In Crafting All Aspects Of A Performance
The Dance Science program in the Texas A&M College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, will debut 13 dance compositions entirely produced by students during four performances Nov. 21 through Nov. 23.
Each performance will take place at the Dance Black Box Theater in the Physical Education Activity Program Building, Room 207. Tickets are $12; $7 for students and seniors, available at the MSC Box Office website.
Six seniors in the program crafted all aspects of the performances — including design, lighting, choreography and marketing — in Concert Choreography courses taught by Diane Bedford, clinical associate professor and section chair of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance.
Bedford said she is eager to see the culmination of student work.
“These students took on so much responsibility in addition to very full academic schedules and outside activities,” she said. “They have been pushed to the edge and keep showing up to put in the work.”
‘Threshold’
Nov. 21 and Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Dance Black Box Theater in the Physical Education Activity Program Building, Room 207.
“Threshold” will feature seven dance pieces choreographed by senior Dance Science students Macie Everitt, Abi McKinney and Bailey Zettler.
Zettler, a senior University Studies Dance Concentration student, said “Threshold” includes a wide range of movement qualities and stories. Some of the pieces relate to hardships, she said, while others explore the relationship between choreographers and dancers.
“Creating every aspect of this show was new and challenging but also very rewarding,” Zettler said. “We learned a lot, felt overwhelmed, helped each other and were able to see how it all came together.”
Zettler said she has grown as a student, dancer and choreographer during her time in the program. She said she is proud of her classmates and grateful to her professors for the opportunity to produce a show.
“I am so thankful for my experience in the program and for the people I have had the chance to learn from,” she said. “Seeing the dancers perform and grow has been such an amazing experience. I can’t wait to celebrate the show’s beauty.”
Top photo: Macie Everitt, Bailey Zettler (kneeling) and Abi McKinney are featured in “Threshold.” Photo by Diane Bedford.
‘Unbound’
Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. at the Dance Black Box Theater in the Physical Education Activity Program Building, Room 207.
“Unbound” will feature six dance pieces choreographed by senior Dance Science students Sommer Edgerson, Lindsay Walker and Lenzy Zettler.
Edgerson, a senior Dance Concentration student, said her group chose the title because the word means “not confined, restrained or limited to.” Edgerson said the works feature several genres, including house, contemporary, modern and ballroom dance.
One of Edgerson’s works is titled “Club Heads,” inspired by the 1976 painting “The Sugar Shack” by Ernie Barnes, which features people dancing in a music hall, she said.
“The music hall was a place for Black people to forget about what was happening in the real world and come together as a community,” she said. “‘Club Heads’ is a house dance piece that pays homage to club culture. Throughout my creative process, I did extensive research to educate my cast on the origin of house dance. I want the audience to feel the love and passion of dance from the performance.”
Edgerson said she enjoyed the production process, including casting dancers, gathering stage crew, designing lighting, sewing costumes, creating choreography and the marketing materials for the show.
“I am excited to show everyone all the hard work we’ve put into this concert,” she said. “Five of my dancers are freshmen, and this will be their first performance as part of the Texas A&M Dance Science program. I am excited for the new students to have an opportunity to perform.”
Bedford said she hopes the departing seniors realize what they have accomplished and to feel proud of their creations. These students will have all necessary skills to produce an entire concert on their own, she said.
“I also hope they learn the importance of process, how to apply feedback and how to excel at collaborating with others,” she said. “The students have taken on leadership roles through the required work of the class, so they should walk away feeling more confident that they can lead and mentor others to success.”
