DANCE/Strasser unveils emerging talent

By Ashley Riviere
THE STYLUS

Photo counrtesy of Laura Frank The dance department presented DANCE/Strasser Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Eight pieces were performed by undergraduate and graduate dance students in the department.

DANCE/Strasser presented Brockport dance department’s talented choreographers and performers from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in the Rose L. Strasser studio in Hartwell Hall.

The eight different pieces were performed by a variety of dancers and choreographers.

First was “Bittersweet,” a Trio of Duets. The piece was choreographed by Danielle Selby, displaying three talented dancers. Each trio consisted of confrontation between a main character dressed in blue and two others: the bitter in black and the sweet in white.

Next was “Image,” choreographed and performed by Alison Constanza. Her male partner did a fantastic job developing from a lifeless structure bound by a blanket to a real being. Constanza brought him the gifts of walking, a heart beat and dance. It was as if she taught him how to live, imitate and be a person in the world.

The third piece, “Hemispheres,” was brought back from eight years in the vault by choreographer Molly Elizabeth Christie. It was a beautiful collection of ballet-like innocence from the lightly costumed dancers and jazz-like harshness of the darker, camouflage-costumed dancers.

The piece used music composed and performed by the Silk Road Ensemble. The four peaceful dancers moved to the softer sounds of the songs. The others danced to the beat of the instruments in the music.

“The structure changes based on who you are working with,” Christie said.  “The core ideas are still there, but I have learned that as a choreographer I must honor the individuals and what potential they bring to the piece as well.”

As the only solo in the show, dancer Kelly Kavanaugh spoke and moved elegantly to the choreography of Crystal Malone and music of Wisdom. Surprisingly enough, Kavanaugh was able to use every inch of the performance area, which was quite impressive. The dance was beautiful and Kavanaugh brought life into the words of Nikki Giovanni: “I want to make a quilt of all the patches and find, one long strong polo to lift it up.”

“A Fading Mind” was choreographed by Laura Frank and her dancers. She said that by collaborating with her dancers, they invest more in the piece.

The choreographer, Kristi Faulkner said that it is inevitable to allow some collaboration with the dancers because all choreographers tend to value what the dancers can bring to the dance. Essentially, they own it.

Frank wanted to bring personal interest to the piece and she did so by portraying her emotions in front of the others. They then took her ideas and ran wild.

After the long process of video taping and rehearsing, Frank was able to turn their phrases into the complicated story performed in Strasser Theater.

The piece “Carry On” was choreographed by Katie Politis, Selby and dancers with the Strasser stage in mind. When asked if they liked performing in the studio and what effect that had on the choreography process, they all agreed they were happy it was there. They also noted the space gave their routines a larger margin which with to work.

“Let Yourself,” a fun, uplifting piece by junior Sarah Horne brought excitement and joy to the stage. The piece was a great end to the show.