As the cumulation of a semester-long process, the Department of Theatre and Dance performed this year’s Dancescape, a student performance that also featured the Baltimore Dance Project’s LightForest. The program ran Nov. 17 and 18.
Dancescape is an annual event showcasing student talents in dance and choreography.
Students performed five dances, “Time Swing,” “And the Music Lives On,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Lady P.I.s,” and “Vigil.” These pieces were produced by professors, alumni, and current students.
Senior Kaitlynn Ecker and junior Ali Zdrojewski designed “Sweet Dreams,” and Kendall Davis, Class of 2016, choreographed “Time Swing.” Professor Paula Lynn Klopcic choreographed behind “Lady P.I.s” and Professor Benjamin Sterling Cannon choreographed “Vigil.”
Professor A.T. Moffet choreographed “And the Music Lives On,” a dance, according to the show program, that “was originally created for an art-based research project and performance Re-Entry: A Performance Tribute to Veterans.” This performance, held on Saturday, Nov. 11, was in conjunction with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, Delaware Division of the Arts, Delaware Art Museum, and Christiana Cultural Arts Center.
“LightForest,” by visiting choreographer Carol Hess, incorporated natural pictures and sounds into the performance.
“This dance ha[d] beautiful images that are projected onto screens as well as the dancers’ bodies. The dancers [wore] blue tooth devices that allow the music to travel with them as they [flew] across the stage,” Moffet said.
According to Hess, the dance concert includes a variety of dance styles and thematic content. “There are dances that are highly virtuosic and have great partnering work. One piece addresses violence in our society and its impact on mothers. There are also light-hearted, Broadway style dances that are sure to entertain,” she said.
The process of bringing Dancescape to life started with auditions at the beginning of the semester.
Sophomore Caitlyn Creasy danced in “Time Swing” and “And the Music Lives On.”
“From the minute we auditioned, we were surrounded by people who were nothing but supportive … loving and kind,” she said.
Moffet said, “Everyone participates in ongoing feedback processes and gets the chance to work with peers, faculty, alumni, and guest artists.”
“[D]ancing at WC is so rewarding… I definitely can’t thank Professor Moffet enough for continuing to shape the program… We are exposed to so many opportunities through the dance program and we have so many chances to dance even outside of the academic program,” Creasy said. “Dancing in Dancescape was really cool. The whole process taught me so much and I’m so thankful that I could take part in it.”
Other student dance performances include a more informal showcase at the end of each semester. The performance will be in Tawes Theatre on Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.