The Brigham Young University Ballet Showcase Company will present five faculty premieres and four new student works during two evenings of dance Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4, in the Dance Studio Theatre (166 Richards Building) at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the performance are $5 and can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322, http://www.byu.edu/hfac. Tickets will also be available at the door prior to the performance.
The concert will incorporate many different choreographic styles and themes, according to Lynne Thompson of the BYU Dance Department.
Marsha Russell of the BYU ballet faculty choreographed the opening piece, "Classical Symphony," named after the symphony by Prokofiev. Accented by colorful tutus, dancers take this technically brilliant piece to new exciting realms intertwining the corps de ballet with pas de trios sections.
Ballet faculty member Suzi Wood brings two diverse pieces to the Ballet Showcase. "The Prayer" expresses the desire for faith and guidance in our lives, set to music by David Frost and Carole Bayer Sager with vocalists Josh Groban and Charlotte Church.
In the early 1920s, a young Aaron Copland wrote his first important work, "Grohg," an imaginary ballet. From this ballet he adapted his Dance Symphony in 1929. Expressing this unique and dynamic music through movement, this piece is also choreographed by Suzi Wood.
Choreographed by Shani Robison, Ballet Showcase Company director, "Hunger Still" is a thought-provoking contemporary piece depicting the suffering of humanity. War and hunger are two of the problems addressed through alternating expressive, flowering movement with dynamic choreography.
"Each About a Minute" choreographed by BYU Theatre Ballet Artistic Director Jan Dijkwel premieres seven sections of dance to Bach's French Suites. Quick footwork and flawless technique make this piece exceptional.
Two pieces from the program have been selected to be performed at the American College Dance Festival, including "Playground" choreographed by Anna Manja Larcher. First performed in Austria in 1997, this piece explores the concepts of life energy.
For more information, please contact Lynne Thompson, (801) 225-1775 or Shani Robison, (801) 422-1830.
Writer: Elizabeth B. Jensen
