'WinterDance '17' displays a variety of dance styles
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017
MANHATTAN — New choreographic works by Kansas State University dance faculty will be performed by students at "WinterDance '17," which will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Chapman Theatre in Nichols. Hall.
Tickets are $11 for students; $14 for faculty, staff, military and seniors; and $16 for the public. Tickets can be purchased online at ksu.universitytickets.com, by calling 785-532-6878, or at the Chapman Theatre box office, which opens one hour before show time.
"WinterDance '17" features a variety of dance styles, including jazz, tap, modern and African dance. Among the works:
• "In the Night" is a new contemporary dance piece by Julie Pentz, associate professor and director of the dance program, that will feature themes from this year's Kansas State University common book, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." Pentz collaborated with the Kansas State Book Network and K-State First, the university's first-year experience program, in the creation of the piece. It will feature original music composition by Craig Meier, senior in applied music, Deshler, Nebraska. Also by Pentz is "In Perpetuum," a jazz piece that is inspired from a fast and furious lifestyle, and "MJ," which features the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble and the music of the legendary Michael Jackson.
• "Bamaya," choreographed by Neil Dunn, instructor of dance, and Pentz, features the K-State African Ensemble. It is a traditional West African social dance from the Dagomba ethnic group and is thought to be a dance to appease the gods to bring rain.
"Routine Days," by Stephen Loch, instructor of dance, is a theatre dance piece that incorporates clowning and a magical music box. Also by Loch is "With Eyes Closed (What Noise Becomes)," about what the mind absorbs and reveals about itself in a dream where deciphering reality becomes a challenge. Overwhelming helplessness and fear coalesce in an oil slick of visions.
• "Warp & Woof" is a goofy duet by Kate Digby, assistant professor of dance, performed in elegant costumes to music by Maurice Chevalier, J.S Bach and the Beatles. "Heartlines," an ensemble work by Digby, features live music performed by members of the K-State percussion studio on marimba and vibraphone. Through short bursts and flinging leaps, Digby's third work on the program, "Bound," explores the forces that keep people confined: intellectual boundaries, borders of the heart and constraints of the body.
Other faculty and staff from the university's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance assisting with the production include Ben Stark, associate professor and technical director; John Uthoff, associate professor and lighting director; Melissa Salvatore, instructor and costume coordinator; and Teri Breymeyer, Lori Baker and Cindy Friederich, office staff. Also taking part as musicians are Stephen Dyer, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Cliff Hight, university archivist.
The following Kansas State University students are performing in or are crew members for "WinterDance '17":
Jazlyn Kingsolver, dancer, Assaria; Kelsey Hoines, dancer, Atchison; Ryan Moos, dancer, Clay Center; Megan Goeckel, dancer, Council Grove; Kaylin Edwards, dancer, and Brooke Merriam, wardrobe crew, both from Derby; Erin Brown, dancer, Downs; Andrea Klepper, dancer, Ellinwood; Stephanie Clark, dancer, Fort Riley; Hannah Maddy, stage crew, Great Bend.
From Greater Kansas City: Lucy Topliklar, assistant lighting designer, Gardner; Abbey Sommerauer, dancer, and Anna Trickey, dancer, both from Leawood; Jesse Barnes, lighting design, Lana Herman, dancer, Jacob Long, musician, Olivia Mangual, dancer, Kerstin Messmer, lighting design, Jeremey Reynolds, musician, and Ellie Ward, dancer, all from Olathe; Abby Crawford, dancer, Allison Griffin, dancer, Tiffani Lawrence, dancer, understudy and rehearsal director/assistant, Jordan Showalter, stage crew, Morgan Sterrett, wardrobe crew, and Glenna Vano, dancer, all from Overland Park; Hannah Yeoman, dancer, Prairie Village; and Taylor Bonser, dancer, Shawnee.
Breanne Kruse, dancer, Hays; Reba Kreider, dancer, Hiawatha; Elissa Bergmeier, rehearsal director and understudy, and Kaitlin Kirby, stage manager, both from Hutchison; Natalie Longhurst, dancer, Lawrence.
From Manhattan: Trace Campbell, light board operator; Lucy Crowder, dancer; Jonah Ericson, dancer; Sydney Harrison, dancer; Claire Huber, dancer; Sarah Hutchinson, wardrobe supervisor; Madison Long, rehearsal director and understudy; Karis Eliese McMurtrey, dancer and costume design; Alicia Monceaux, dancer; Cody O'Hare, stage crew; and Kendra Truitt, dancer.
Taybor Smith, dancer and understudy, Marysville; Hannah Stecklein, dancer, McPherson; Allie Deiter, dancer, Meriden; Sarah Ludwick, dancer, Paola; Emma Ayre, dancer, Pawnee Rock; Zoe Abner, dancer, Riley; Laura Gillum, dancer, Rossville; Emma Snyder, dancer, Salina; Carrie Miller, dancer, Seneca.
From Topeka: Brett Broadbent, stage crew; Tressa Dekat, dancer; Breana Tiffany, dancer; and Kolby Van Kamp, musician.
Drew George, dancer, Uniontown; Hailey Price, dancer, Madison Rios, assistant lighting director, and Isabella Vardaman, dancer, all from Wichita; and Eli Camp, dancer, Winfield.
From out of state:
Tara Doman, dancer, Riverside, California; Sierra Burnett, understudy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Victoria Whitmore, dancer, Greeley, Colorado; Jenna Henderson, dancer, Plainfield, Illinois; Kimberly Coussens, dancer and understudy, Zionsville, Indiana; Mar'Quel Collins, dancer, Florissant, Missouri; Chelsie Yokum, dancer, Gladstone, Missouri; Katherine Boulanger, dancer and understudy, and Nicole Boulanger, dancer, both from Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Emma Hochman, dancer, Norman, Oklahoma; Alexander Shallenberger, musician, Erie, Pennsylvania; Kenedi Kelley, dancer, Cedar Park, Texas; Katelyn Gehrt, dancer, Cypress, Texas; Sarah Pitzer, dancer, Haltom City, Texas;Brandon Collins, musician, Middlebourne, West Virginia; and Olivia Carter, sound board operator, Thiensville, Wisconsin.
From out of country: Jazmin Royg, dancer, Paraguay; and Meenu Mohankumar, doctoral student in statistics, Sri Lanka.
