Spring UCDC Show to Feature African Dance Residency
The Ursinus College Dance Company spring dance concert, produced by Karen Clemente, a professor of dance, will also feature a variety of new works by professional guest artists and student choreographers, in addition to hip hop artist Josh Polk and modern dance choreographer Dana Powers-Klooster.
Performances are in the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m., which is a free preview night; Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The piece combines ancient beatz, transAtlantic rhythms, rhythms of the diaspora and recycled rhythms with a variety of African-based dance movement, including neo-traditional dance and African American step dance.
Original pieces by two Ursinus guest artists and dance faculty will also be performed during the concert. Powers-Klooster’s Roots Unfolding explores the complicated nature of what it means to be “family” and the ways in which our own definition of the word continuously evolves as we experience loss and love.
Polk’s Fight the Power is a dance inspired by the idea of unifying diversity through the expression of hip hop. He says, “In hip hop, all races, cultures, ethnicities and genders come together as one to celebrate the freedom of movement and using our bodies to communicate.”
The concert also features two pieces choreographed by current students. James Daring ’18, Kelsey Jean-Baptiste ’18 and Danielle Jordan ’18 collaborated on Caravan, which focuses on a group of dancers who are auditioning for a difficult jazz piece. Moorea Cioppa ’20 choreographed Conscious in Flux, a journey through a hyperactive mind that processes many intense feelings in a short amount of time.
The Ursinus College Dance Company performance celebrates the rich fabric of dance at the college and is suitable for all ages. The African Dance Residency is sponsored in part by the Ursinus arts & lectures committee.
Tickets are $8 for the general public and $5 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased online at ursinus.edu/tickets and they will be available at the box office before the show.
Ursinus College and the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) are again teaming up for “Dinner and a Show” for this event. Theatergoers can enjoy pre-show dinner specials at local restaurants for a memorable evening out. For more information, email manager@collegevilledevelopment.org or call (484) 975-2086.
For show inquiries, please contact boxoffice@ursinus.edu or (610) 409-3030. –By Taylor Manferdini ’13