‘Dance ’14: In Flow’ celebrates artistic versatility, diversity
A dancer performs the choreography of Kent State’s Dance Division Director Andrea Shearer’s “To Morrow” at the dress rehearsal for Dance in Flow on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014.
November 22, 2014
The School of Theatre and Dance celebrated artistic versatility and diversity with its faculty dance concert, “Dance ‘14: In Flow,” as dozens of dancers performed in the E. Turner Stump Theatre.
The concert involved more than 75 dancers, designers, faculty members and staff. Student dancers moved to performances carefully choreographed by five faculty members and one guest artist during the program’s sold-out opening night on Friday, Nov. 21.
The faculty choreographers included MaryAnn Black, assistant professor of dance; Kim Karpanty, associate professor of dance; Joan Meggitt, assistant professor of dance; Tanya Mucci, adjunct and Andrea Shearer, director of the event and professor of dance.
Student dancers performed six pieces ranging in style during the two-hour event. The concert opened with musical theatre number “Workin,” set to a rendition of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
Just before intermission, Chuck Ritchie, professor emeritus and emcee of the event, introduced the night’s guest-choreographed work by Tony award-winning director Garth Fagan.
“Two part, the first is an homage to jazz. Fagan believes that the dancer’s body is another instrument,” Ritchie said. “The second section was created in October 2001, in honor of the victims and survivors of the 9/11 tragedy. It intends to portray the dignity and honor from which our nation has recovered.”
Fagan, known for his choreography of the Broadway musical “The Lion King,” was brought to Kent State by the Armstrong Family Visiting Artist Series, making him the second visiting artist since the series creation in 2013.
Fagan choreographed “Two Pieces of One: Green,” with the dancers interpreting movement set to jazz music.
“We got very lucky with this special residency,” Shearer said. “The dancers will also perform it as the Kent Ensemble concert as well.”
In addition to the night’s six performances, another event was celebrated. “Dance ‘14: In Flow” was the last production Shearer directed at Kent State.
“I’m here tonight to honor Andrea Shearer, who is retiring this year after 35 years at Kent State,” Karpanty said. “I think you’ll find the quality of this dance concert a testament to the high standards she holds.”
Contact Brittany Rees at [email protected].
