University News
Winter DanceWorks Concert Dec. 3-6 at WIU
November 25, 2015
MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University's annual Winter DanceWorks Concert will offer an evening of dance, choreographed by students and instructors in University Dance Theatre (UDT), at 7:30 p.m. in Hainline Theatre Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 3-5, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.
Each performance will incorporate a variety of dance styles, including modern/contemporary, jazz and Afro-modern. In this concert, guest artist, faculty and student pieces will be featured.
Heidi Clemmens, associate professor of dance and co-artistic director of UDT, explores the sense of fear in her piece, "Hovering." In addition, she has also choreographed a 1970s-style all-company finale piece titled "Can You Dig It…?"
Lara Little, dance instructor and co-artistic director of UDT, will present "(Day) at a Time," a piece about the daily struggle, failure, success and never ending fight that comes from battling alcoholism and other addictions.
UDT are grateful to have had Kim Nofsinger complete a residency at the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester, setting a piece on 13 UDT members. "Crown of Sorrows" is a piece based on the book "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," which documents the experiences of children who were in Terezin during World War II. More than 15,000 Jewish children passed through the Terezin ghetto, and only about 100 were still alive when it was liberated at the end of the war.
Student choreographers include:
• Senior Shannon Phillips, a political science major from Macomb (IL), is choreographer of "Sterk Vroue," which infuses modern and African dance for an upbeat piece about strong women and the appreciation of their abilities.
• Junior Lauren Marchetto, a elementary education major from Glenview (IL), has set "Susan," a contemporary piece about accepting help before it is too late and the unconditional support that comes from family.
• Senior Nikki Sangiacomo, a physical education major from Villa Park (IL), choreographed "After Here," an upbeat contemporary piece about making dreams a reality and new beginnings.
• Senior Bryce Speaker, a human resource management major from Aledo (IL) , has set a piece on five dancers titled "Detached Love," about loving someone that doesn't love you back.
• Sophomore Marrisha Devereueawax-Coates, a pre-business conditional marketing major from Rockford (IL), will present the contemporary piece "London 1888," set in the era of Jack the Ripper.
• Junior Aryana Snyder, a, elementary education major from Davenport (IA), has set a piece on seven dancers titled "Trapped," about the daily struggle of someone living with an anxiety disorder and the inner chaos of the mind.
In addition, UDT will also host a Student Choreographer Showcase in Hainline Theatre at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Admission is free.
The following student works will be featured:
• Junior Madelyn Lego, a musical theatre major from Columbus (IN), has choreographed a piece for five dancers titled "Danza del Hada," about the joys of reading and finding a happy ending in every situation.
• Sangiacomo and Speaker have choreographed an upbeat, high energy jazz piece titled "Behind Bars" inspired by the TV series "Orange is the New Black."
• Senior Jessica Wilson, a musical theatre major from Sycamore (IL), has choreographed a 1920s-style musical theatre piece called "Hotsy Totsy."
Members of UDT who will perform in these concerts include:
Andrea Abarca, a sophomore exercise science major from East Moline (IL); Samantha Anderson, a sophomore musical theatre major from New London (IA); Hollyn Beans, a junior musical theatre major from Greenville (IL); Sarah Bertram, a senior musical theatre major from Pontiac (IL); Astoncia Bhagat, a junior musical theatre major from Woodstock (IL); Samantha Bonzi, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockford (IL); Lenesha Bowles, a junior exercise science major from Chicago (IL); Libby Crawford, a freshman musical theatre major from Marshalltown (IA); Jordan Davis, a junior pre-elementary education major from Macomb (IL); Marisha Devereueawax-Coates, a sophomore a pre-business conditional marketing major from Rockford (IL); Anna Diekemper, a junior broadcasting major from Dunlap (IL); Katarina Dutra, a sophomore social work major from Elgin (IL); Linell Ferguson, a junior theatre major from Orion (IL); Shannon Fields, a senior musical theatre major Stoughton (WI); Jacquilyn Frausto, a freshman pre-social work major from Franklin Park (IL); Ricky Garcia, a freshman law enforcement and justice administration major from Romeoville (IL); Molly Hall, a junior English major from Crystal Lake (IL); Jewel Harrell, a sophomore pre-nursing major from Chicago (IL); Ryan Hoppman, a senior theatre major from Fort Madison (IA); Madelyn Lego, a junior a musical theatre major from Columbus (IN); Autumn Loose, a senior music theatre major from Moline (IL); Jacquilyn Moline (IL); Kaelin Lopriore, a freshman theatre major from Lake in the Hills (IL); Marchetto; Brian McKinley, a senior music theatre major from Peoria (IL); Kellie Nolan, a junior Lopriore, from Bloomington (IL); Arianna Nutile, a freshman recreation park and tourism administration major from Elgin (IL); Jessica Palkovic, a junior musical theatre major from Peoria (IL); Phillips, Aja Phinisee, a sophomore biology major from Chicago (IL); Rebecca Roy, a sophomore music theatre major from Geneva (IL); Nikki Sangiacomo, a senior physical education major from Villa Park (IL); Nissi Smith, a sophomore musical theatre major from South Holland (IL); Aryana Snyder; Snyder; Speaker; Savannah Strandin, a junior musical theatre major from Rockford (IL); Dawn Tonkinson, a freshman law enforcement and justice administration major from Hoffman Estates (IL); Sam Twining, a senior musical theatre major from Sterling (IL); Libby Weaver, a freshman pre-business major from Bettendorf (IA); Jessica Wilson, a senior musical theatre major from Sycamore (IL); Julie Winter, a senior music education major from Arlington Heights (IL) and Emily Wirkus, a theatre graduate student from Albert Lea (MN).
Tickets are $15 for the general public, $13 for seniors, youth, or WIU employees and free for WIU students and are available through the Hainline Box Office, by calling (309) 298-2900, from noon – 5 p.m. weekdays, or online at wiu.edu/cofac/eventstickets.php.
For more information, contact the WIU Department of Theatre and Dance at (309) 298-1543.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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