The Merrins Chamber Series by the Fredonia Dance Ensemble makes its debut with performances on Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., in the James and Marcia Merrins Dance Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center.
Theatre and Dance Assistant Professor Paula J. Peters is the director for the Merrins Chamber Series event.
“Something that is really special about this event is the diversity of contemporary styles that will be presented, and the opportunity that gives the students to dig deeper into building their skill sets as dance artists across a wide range of styles,” Ms. Peters said.
The dance concert will feature Fredonia Dance majors and minors performing four works – one each by Theatre and Dance faculty members Sam Kenney, Paul Mockovak and Peters, and one by guest artist Bliss Kohlmyer, associate professor of Dance at University of South Florida.
“This is the inaugural dance concert in this space, so the audience will get to see the studio transformed into an intimate performing space, which creates a different bond between the audience and performer that is not felt in a traditional proscenium setting,” Peters said.
The Merrins Chamber Series will include two events each season. The fall semester event will feature student performance while the spring semester event will feature student choreography.
Peters said the new series was made possible by the addition of the Merrins Dance Theatre as part of the recent Rockefeller building project and the addition of Lighting and Sound Supervisor Taylor Morse to the Department of Theatre and Dance staff.
“The primary idea behind the Merrins Chamber Series is to provide more opportunities for our growing number of dance majors, particularly in the areas of performance and choreography,” she said. “Given that many of them aspire to careers as either professional performers or choreographers, it is essential that they have as many chances to show their work in a public forum as possible.”
Peters said 36 students are involved in this inaugural event, with 22 performers, a backstage crew of 12 and two design technicians.
The James and Marcia Merrins Dance Theatre is located on the second floor of the new Rockefeller wing. Easiest access is from the Dods Hall parking lot on the west side of the building.
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