The Brigham Young University Department of Dance presents the Contemporary Dance Theatre in “Dance In Concert 40th Anniversary” Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21, at 7:30 p.m,. in the de Jong Concert Hall, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee Saturday.
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone 801.422.2981 or online at byuarts.com.
To celebrate their 40th anniversary, the Contemporary Dance Theatre will present a collection of dances that celebrate music, art and life. Led by artistic director Nathan Balser, the group will be joined by alumni dancers, the BYU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mark Ammons and solo artist Nick Sales.
The concert will feature the national premieres of several new pieces including Fold Here, a retrospective look at classic MGM movie musicals mixed with current music, from nationally known choreographer and guest artist Lindsey Mathies. Also featured is Ihsan Rustem, returning to BYU to present I Was Here, a piece featuring music from Beyonce, Jonsi and local band Book on Tape Worm.
Also featured are local urban artist Jeffrey Louizia and Contemporary Dance Theatre alumna Amy Markgraf Jacobsen. Three new pieces from BYU faculty will also be presented, including Rock, Paper, Silence from Shayla Bott featuring the music of Fleetwood Mac, Carrying Samsonite from Nathan Balser and from Joni Tuttle McDonald 500 Miles, a quartet inspired by the 80s indie/alt song of the same name from The Proclaimers.
BYU Contemporary Alumni are encouraged to attend a reunion in their honor that coincides with the concert. For more information about the reunion visit alumni.byu.edu.
The BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre, formerly known as The Dancers’ Company, has served audiences since 1975 with its wide spectrum of dance styles that range from dramatic to comedic and lyrical to jazz.
A winner in the American College Dance Festival competition, the company has taught workshops and performed throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and internationally in South America, East Asia, South Africa, Turkey, Australia and Israel.
The technical crew for the performance include lighting designer Michael Handley, sound designer Troy Sales, costume designer Dawn Maughan, set and prop designer Mark Ohran overseen by Benjamin Sanders and stage manager Crysta Powell.
