We have reached the final stretch of the school year, and for seniors it’s the last weeks of college until the next adventure begins.
A Colorful Farewell
The University of Utah School of Dance presented “Outro,” a Modern Senior Concert. The concert showcased choreography from the nine modern dance BFA seniors and danced by themselves and other dancers from the School of Dance programs.
The program also featured one new original work by Heartland Collective. I saw the opening night show on March 28 in the Hayes Christensen Theatre located in the Marriott Center of Dance building.
The program was a colorful show and diverse array of dance pieces. A concert note in the program shares that the show is inspired by the personal histories, future ambitions and friendships of the senior class. The dancers describe the show as “a culmination of the hard work we have done, lessons we have learned and precious relationships we have made over these last 4 years.”
There is a repetition of six “yes” statements that the dancers embrace in this program: “Yes to risk, yes to vulnerability and care, yes to experimentation, yes to research, yes to art that calls for liberation, yes to remembering the rhythms and spirals of aliveness, life is a dance.”
Cowboys, Tea and Shakespeare
My favorite piece of the night was “Myth of the Cowboy,” choreographed by Henrik Gustafson in collaboration with the performers. The piece has a fun plot that includes duels at dawn and drama in the saloon. Gustafson brings some interesting choreography which contributes to the themes of the piece well. Dancer Max VanNocken-Witmer gave a vibrant performance.
Another standout piece was “I’m so sorry I forgot to tell you I’m Unraveling” choreographed by Elle Taylor. This piece has a large portion of the stage covered in carpet as the dancer drinks tea then begins an assortment of movements. This piece has some interesting moments with amazing balance by dancer Cooper Sullivan and interesting tempo and flow experimentation throughout.
The “Outro” program involved a lot of exploration in dance creation. Choreography was tested, lighting became a subject and a tool to play with. I loved “Through a Dreamy Blur” by Lily Bella Hammons. It plays with a silhouette of a downstage mover light set to a whimsical reading of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Dame Judi Dench.
The last piece of the program, “Outro: our last wish,” begins as a fun interview held by a tap dancer as they speak to the dancers intermittently hidden behind the main curtain. There was comedy and lots of laughs from the audience. A fun time indeed.
The Senior Showcase closed March 30 and was a beautiful display of talent and ambition from the graduating seniors.
For more info and to learn about upcoming performances, check out the School of Dance website here.
