An Evening of Dance Celebrates Its 33rd Year
KEENE, N.H., 03/28/08 - KSC’s anticipated An Evening of Dance, now in its 33rd year, is scheduled for Wednesday to Saturday, April 16 to 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theatre of the Redfern Arts Center on Brickyard Pond. Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for KSC students, senior citizens, and youth ages 17 and younger. For tickets, please call the box office at 603-358-2168.
This year’s performance features nine dances exploring a variety of themes from gardening to life’s journey to love and loss.
“Walklyndon,” choreographed by the revolutionary modern dance troupe, Pilobolus, is an exciting addition to this year’s concert. This reconstruction of the dance troupe’s piece was supported by an “American Masterpieces” grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. The students rehearsed this spring and performed it for after-school programs in the region. “Walklyndon,” choregraphed in 1971, was performed by Pilobolus at their October performance at Keene State. KSC dance faculty members Marcia Murdock and William Seigh are directing the piece.
Murdock’s “Cultivar” is inspired by her passion for gardening and by the ever- present temptation to include exquisite, yet invasive, plants in her garden designs. This dance light-heartedly explores one gardener’s dilemma and the imagined consequences.
“Passage,” choreographed by KSC associate professor of dance William Seigh investigates the concept of passage with its varied meanings. This sextet will be performed to a cello solo composed by Bach.
Candice Salyers, dance faculty member, has choreographed an energetic group piece for a cast of 11 dancers. This dance asks questions about what is beyond the end of the world as we know it. Lighting designer for this piece is Jeremy Robarge.
Two of the performances, “The Last Dessert” and “All the Mean Things,” represented Keene State at the New England Regional American College Dance Festival Association Conference at Connecticut College in February. “The Last Dessert,” choreographed by KSC sophomore Shawn Ahern, uses music by the Tin Hat Trio and explores the emotions involved when experiencing something you love for the last time. “All the Mean Things” is choreographed and danced by KSC senior Angie Muzzy with lighting design by KSC junior Gilly Clarke-Moon. An accompanying video was also created by Muzzy, who is the recipient of this year’s Alta Lu Townes Memorial Dance Award.
“Sand and Autumn” is choreographed by KSC junior Jessica Howard with lighting design by KSC senior Liz Panneton. This dance is inspired by the choreographer’s reflection on that moment of complete relaxation right before you fall asleep, when everything that’s running through your mind makes sense, and you can finally exhale.
KSC senior Courtney Sweeney uses weight-sharing as a choreographic tool to convey the relationship in her sculptural duet, “Blindspot.” Another KSC senior, Amy Goudreau, uses effort variations to communicate her theme in her quintet entitled “Far or Gone.”
Murdock and Seigh are director and associate director of the performance. Céline Perron is in charge of set and lighting design. Costume designs are by Kate Thaw, and Craig Lindsay is technical director. All are members of the Theatre and Dance Department.
