Experiments in Motion

Like it or not, our university is not typically known for pushing the envelope on what is acceptable in an artistic—or any other, for that matter—sense. That’s why it is particularly refreshing to hear about the U.Va. Dance Program’s Explorations: An Experimental Dance Concert, showing this Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. in the Culbreth Theatre. I had the chance to speak with several of the student choreographers and dancers about the hard work that they’ve put into this show and their artistic intentions in putting on their performance.

Explorations is the third annual interpretive dance show that the Dance Program has displayed. Focusing on modern and contemporary dance, three faculty and five student choreographers develop unique, original routines to be performed entirely by student dancers from a variety of dance troupes and companies around the University. Students submitted proposals for their choreography and held open auditions at the beginning of the semester. They then present a series of showings for the program’s supervisors to chart progress as it comes along. Although the show has no overarching, unified goal or creative direction, Program Director Rose Beauchamp stated that many themes and similarities do emerge over the course of the creative process, and that the most important thing for the dance students is that they push their own boundaries and aren’t afraid to try things they aren’t used to doing. Several of the choreographers confessed that this wasn’t particularly difficult, however, because this was their first time choreographing on a larger performance level, the task was not without challenges.

Experimental dance is highly emphasized and encouraged not only in this year’s Explorations, but regularly in dance program concerts. Last year’s fall performance had a very eclectic mix of choreography, including a belly dancing routine and an aerial dance piece that saw students suspended above the stage. The diversity in types of routines is sure to continue this year. Fourth years Rebecca Conners and
Camille Beckman have developed a duet that incorporates their enjoyment of English and poetry into their dance. Both performers composed the first section of a poem, then traded and completed their partner’s work. Drawing inspiration from their poems, they’ve developed an interlocking combination between themselves and between the poems and their movements. Third year Rachel Swartz picked the song “Cindy” by Ola Podrida and composed a performance based on and expanding on the lyrics and overtones of the track. Graduate student Anna
Banerjea stated that she was always fascinated by the appeal of balloons and decided to turn her section into a semi-nostalgic focus on the inner child, combining dance and pedestrian movements with a significant amount of improvisation. Additionally, I had had the privilege of viewing Susan Barnard’s section, entitled “Te Quiero Amar,” which features visually coordinated male and female dancers pairing off to a sensual Spanish song in order to touch on, as the show’s press release states, “the way dance has hit the mainstream through television shows like Dancing with the Stars.”

From the intricate lighting and sound cues, the use of props and detailed costumes, and the employment of stage and production crews from the department, it’s obvious that the whole program is a very elaborate affair. The effort and pressure on the students is apparent, but it’s exciting to see University students encouraging each other to express themselves in a medium that is too often overlooked as an art form.

The show takes place at Culbreth Theater on October 16th at 8 p.m. and October 17th at 2p.m. and 8p.m. Tickets are $5 for students.