Bright lights create shadows of the dancers in senior dance major’s Maria Gigliotti’s piece “Strange Magic.” ELIZABETH MYERS | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: Jason Hall

Kent State dance students spun, jumped and twisted across the stage in front of a packed Kiva yesterday.

Nine senior dance majors choreographed all the pieces performed by the students in the annual BFA Senior Dance Concert.

Jordan Petersen-Fitts, senior dance performance major, was one of the choreographers for the show. She said being a choreographer instead of a dancer gave her a different perspective on the show.

“They (the dances) look so good when you sit back and watch it on stage,” Petersen-Fitts said.

She also said that as a graduating senior the show displayed everything she had learned throughout her studies.

Barbara Verlezza, assistant professor at the School of Theater and Dance and the faculty artistic director of the show, said she was proud of all the students.

“It is a beautiful exit from the university and entrance into the next chapter of their lives,” she said.

Brittany Cowen, senior advertising major with a dance minor, was one of the dancers in the show. Cowen said she thought the show went really well.

“Everybody brought their ‘A game,'” she said.

Cowen said she feels sad about not dancing with her friends at Kent State anymore.

“This was probably my last performance at Kent State,” she said.

Tiffany Besselman, freshman dance major, also danced in the show.

She said the speed of the piece she was in and the use of the costumes worn were both challenging things for her and the other dancers.

“It was so fast-paced and different working with the hoods on the costumes and pulling at each other,” Besselman said.

Working with the senior dance majors taught her how to cooperate with others to put on a good show and help improve her dance skills, she said. She also plans to dance in next year’s show.

Contact fashion reporter Kristen Kotz at [email protected].

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ELIZABETH MYERS | DAILY KENT STATER