Herberger Institute presents 'Dance Annual'

The Dance Annual highlights the 2010–11 season by presenting some of the most captivating work created throughout the year. This collection features the work of faculty, visiting artists, alumni, and graduate and undergraduate students in a variety of platforms. The Dance Annual illustrates the diverse creative practices supported at ASU School of Dance.

Emily Spranger’s Sustainable Place focuses on using dance as a vehicle to educate the public about taking care of the environment. Spranger believes dance can help bring awareness about sustainability issues. It is Spranger’s hope that audiences experience her work and get inspired to care about making each individual’s environment more resilient.

Small talk, choreographed by graduate student Kathryn Ullom, is a structured improvisation that combines live text with dancing in an informal setting. Audience members are encouraged to interact and engage with the dancers in alternative ways. Awkward pauses, trying to find conversation in a not so normal environment, and navigating movement through crowds of people are a few of the challenges the two dancers will tackle in this duet.

Juan Rodriguez’s Catalyst takes the audience on a series of events and situations that describe a journey of conformity and discomfort. Through social interactions, we see how even the smallest gestures can affect a whole group and ultimately, lead to their final outcome. One thing leads to another but it takes a true "catalyst" to help the reaction get on its way.

Frojo Mojo What!? And OH NO!!! is a theatrical illustration of the implementation of Hip Hop in academia. This piece explores the differences between contemporary/classical dance styles and urban dance forms with the question of what constitutes dance and what makes one form of dance more significant than another.

Pushing Forward explores and embodies movement through the discussion of transitioning. Choreographer and senior Tara Wrobel, in collaboration with the performers, demonstrates how dancers are discovering their individual process through their time at Arizona State University and into their future after school.

For Her Smile Is Painted On, choreographed by Jenna Kosowski, ASU School of Dance alumna, is a solo performance by senior Renee Zuccola. The piece is influenced by the storybook character, Raggedy Ann created in 1915. This was around the period in the U.S. history when women fought for equal rights. The flow and fluidity of the movements show “freedom” and the overall piece is focused on the “feminine” qualities of dance.

To…, choreographed by graduate student Laurel Wall Mac-Lane, draws out and examines the transition from not knowing to knowing. This duet investigates trusting the unknown in a richly textured environment utilizing original video projection, sound score, and movement.

Revolutionary Alarm, conveys multiple characters through spoken words that are designed to captivate the audience in an experience of recreating words and movement at the same time, is choreographed by alumna Melissa Britt with the collaboration of senior Paige Mayes, and spoken-word artist Tomas Stanton.

Graduate student, Rebecca Ferrell’s Impressive Mastermind examines privacy laws surrounding the United States Patriot Act. This trans-disciplinary piece moves away from the construction of spectacle and into a multi-dimensional experience for the audience, enabling them to feel, hear, and see the subject matter from a number of perspectives.

You made up the Story and I played with all the Parts by Crystal Bedford, examines bisexuality as the new way to be socially constructed. In a society that Bedford feels continuously is filled with the pressures to be “heteronormative,” her work deconstructs the norm into creating her sexual utopia explored through desire and relationships. Bedford hopes that her work can take the audience onto new journeys of self-discovery and reflection.

Please note: Ferrell’s Impressive Mastermind and Bedford’s You made up the Story and I played with all the Parts contain nudity and adult language and are not appropriate for young audiences. Audience members will have an opportunity to leave the hall before these works are performed.

For more information visit: http://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/events/viewevent.php?eid=619.