Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia department of dance CORE Concert Dance Company will present its contemporary and aerial dance concert “AWE-WAKENING!” Feb. 29 to March 3 at 8 p.m. in the New Dance Theatre located between Soule and Green streets across the South Campus parking garage.
The 60-minute performance consists of a range aerial dance-including bungee-assistance, trapeze, lyra and silks-blended with digitally rendered film projection and lighting effects. The evening’s concert explores a connection to current topics about global awareness and is primarily performed by UGA students with international representation, including students originally from South Korea, Bosnia and Japan.
“Our program continues to grow in our abilities to expand in the diversity of repertoire we present to the public,” said Bala Sarasvati, Jane Willson Professor in the Arts in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and director of the CORE Concert Dance Company. “The aerial equipment utilized in choreography today is compelling for both dancers and audiences, and our students are incorporating it into new methods of expression and exploration.”
Guest choreographer Meaghan Muller of Atlanta will premiere “Earthchanges,” a lyra quartet featuring large, suspended circular steel rings. The piece requires specialized aerial training for the CORE members and reflects some of Muller’s artistic development during her seven-year affiliation with Cirque de Soliel. JoAnna Mendl Shaw, artistic director of the Equus Projects who also teaches dance composition at the Julliard School and the Ailey Schools in New York, created “Interlude for Nine” for the company during her four-day residency at the UGA department of dance in January.
Made up of UGA students, the CORE Concert Dance Company contemporary and aerial dance concert returning members for 2012 are Clinton Kyles, who recently completed a touring season with Diavalo Dance Theater in Los Angeles; Mallory Baxley, currently member of Zoetics Dance Ensemble in Atlanta; Hyeyoung Borden; Anna Bracewell; and Chrystola Oseni. New members include Meg Babcock-Adams, Tensia Benson, Mirna Minkov, Emi Murata and Farrah Nixon and guest performer Antony Bui.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets in advance of the show, see the Tate Student Center cashier’s window Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call 706/542-8579. Tickets will be available for cash only at the door beginning at 7 p.m. the evening of the performance.
For more information on the CORE Concert Dance Company, see www.dance.uga.edu/companies/core.