Arts & Humanities Society & Culture

UGA to hold senior exit, emerging choreographers dance concert

Dance senior exit 2013-Farrah Nixon and Tyler Williams-h.env
Senior bachelor of fine arts candidates in dance Farrah Nixon and Tyler Williams practice in front of UGA's ecology building. (Credit: Mary Beth Stinson/UGA)

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia department of dance will present its 2013 Senior Exit and Emerging Choreographers Dance Concert Nov. 6-8 at 8 p.m. in the New Dance Theater in the dance building on Sanford Drive. The concert—along with three other dance events—is part of UGA’s 2013 Spotlight on the Arts Festival.

The 2013 Senior Exit and Emerging Choreographers Dance Concert is choreographed by senior, junior and sophomore dance majors who will demonstrate their artistic talents, dedication and passion for the art of dance. Farrah Nixon and Tyler Williams, senior bachelor of fine arts candidates in dance, will present their original choreographic work, along with third year candidates Kalela Massey, Emi Murata, Mirna Minkov and Mollie Henry and second year dance majors Jay Clark and Alexis Birts.

The senior showcase will display a variety of different dance techniques and styles, giving the students an opportunity to express their own artistic flair. Whether it is choreography inspired by the college-dating scene interpreted though old-fashioned images or a fusion of various dance styles with a focus of putting the audience in a trance or based on kinetic movement rather than narrative, the program promises a diversity of expression, movement and imagery.

“Being able to be a choreographer and student in such an anticipated process is an unmatched experience,” said Massey, a third year student from Atlanta.

“It has been so wonderful to share this experience with my closest friends and see their unique styles and personalities come through in their pieces,” said Nixon, a Brunswick native. “Everyone brings something so beautiful and original to the table; no two pieces are alike. This concert is overflowing with talent and creativity.”

Tickets may be purchased at the Tate Student Center cashier’s window, by phone at 706-542-4400, online at pac.uga.edu or at the door before the performance. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $12 for the general public. Parking will be available in the South Campus parking deck located on Sanford Drive.

Additional Spotlight on the Arts events being held in the dance department are listed below. Admission is free, and parking for all events will be available in the South Campus parking deck.

Department of Dance Performance Sampler
Friday, Nov. 8, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
The UGA department of dance will present a dance performance sampler Nov. 8 from 12:15-12:45 p.m. in the New Dance Theatre. The showcase will feature faculty-created choreographic works performed by the UGA Ballet Ensemble with Joan Buttram, the CORE Concert Contemporary and Aerial Dance Company with artistic director Bala Sarasvati, and the Spring Dance Concert 2014 students with co-artistic directors Rebecca Enghauser and Alix Miller. UGA dance students will perform classical and contemporary ballet, contemporary modern and aerial dance with mixed media.

Open Community Ballet Class, UGA Ballet Ensemble Performance Sneak Peek
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2-5 p.m.
The UGA Ballet Ensemble with Buttram will hold an open community ballet master class for dancers of all ages to either participate in or observe on Nov. 10 from 2-3:30 p.m. in studio 274 of the dance building. A tour of the New Dance Theatre with Technical Director and Lighting Designer Chris Fleming will follow the class. The UGA Ballet Ensemble will present a sneak peek performance in the theatre from 4-5 p.m. for their upcoming 20th anniversary celebration concert in March and spring dance concert in April. Choreographic works by Buttram and Miller will be presented. For more information on this event, see http://ugabespotlightonthearts.weebly.com/.

Sneak Preview: “Dance, Science and the Dreamchasers 2014”
Thursday, Nov. 14, 5-5:30 p.m.
The CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance Company with Sarasvati will join William Dennis, head of the department of physics and astronomy, and Mike Hussey, director of the department of theatre and film studies’ digital media area, to discuss and demonstrate portions of a collaborative dance and science project that will premiere Feb. 26-March 1. The half-hour sneak preview will be held Nov. 14 from 5-5:30 p.m. in the New Dance Theatre.

The Spotlight on the Arts festival is presented by the UGA Arts Council, of which the dance department is a participating unit. More than 60 events are scheduled during the nine-day festival in November. For more details on the festival, see arts.uga.edu.