This year’s “Dance in Concert” by the Brigham Young University Contemporary Dance Theatre will focus on “ENCOUNTERS” Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 13-15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre of the Harris Fine Arts Center, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee Saturday.
Tickets are $10 a seat for opening night and $12 for all other performances; they can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office by calling (801) 422-2981 or by visiting byuarts.com/tickets.
"ENCOUNTERS" invites us all to see beauty in unanticipated moments, find something new in the familiar and be transformed by connections and exchanges.
“You will experience the work of varied choreographers — including our own faculty as well as national and international guest artists,” said Artistic Director Nathan Balser. “Each work explores the idea of encounters — encountering memories, queries, dreams, new arrangements in a common world, striving for balance and finding love, and experiencing the aggravation and joy of competition.”
The acclaimed student performers will present a new work by Balser, titled “Rapture, a quick-paced, exuberant contemporary piece that portrays the joyful encounters of family and friends. Karen Jensen’s film, “Inner Child,” which depicts the encounter of adults and their own inner child will be screened. Joni Tuttle McDonald, the company’s assistant director, will be restaging a work she previously premiered at the BYU Museum of Art, “Withstanding Resistance.”
The company will also restage two previously performed works. “The Boxes, Me and the Sound” is a collaborative tap piece from former faculty member Pat Debenham, current faculty member Colleen West and alumnus Evan Rogler. “Chakra” is a remarkable piece choreographed by nationally recognized choreographer and teacher, Ivan Pulinkala.
The concert features new guest choreography by Loni Landon and Ihsan Rustem. Loni is a bold, young, exciting dance artist who brings a new work, “The Thought of You Is Fading.” This fresh and insightful piece depicts various thoughts and feelings one might experience as they reflect on loved ones no longer in their lives. Ihsan Rustem’s captivating piece “HeartLines” follows the encounters dancers face that change their lives and alter their hearts’ pathways.
The dancers will perform with Salt Lake City’s Repertory Dance Theatre and guests from Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance as they present the unforgettable, classical work of Jose Limon’s, “Missa Brevis,” an essay in movement of one man’s encounters with doubt, fear and personal beliefs in the aftermath of WWII.
In connection with the performance, the Department of Dance will present two special forums on Thursday (Feb. 13) in 185 Richards Building. Jerry Jaccard of the music faculty and Caroline Prohosky of the Dance faculty will discuss "Missa Brevis" in regard to faith, war and art at 10 a.m. Linda C. Smith, artistic director of Repertory Dance Theatre, will speak at 11 a.m.
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.
For more information, contact Nathan Balser at (801) 422-8022 or Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348, ken_crossley@byu.edu.
Writer: Brett Lee
