Fredonia’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents its 11th annual Fredonia Dance Ensemble concert from April 28 to 30 in the Robert W. Marvel Theatre. With performances by Fredonia’s outstanding young dancers and a wide variety of choreographic offerings from Fredonia’s dance faculty, guest artists Jon Lehrer and Tressa Gorman Crehan and American dance legend Paul Taylor, the event is described as an exhilarating evening of dance.
Featured in this year’s program is “Aureole,” a signature work by Mr. Taylor, a renowned modern dance pioneer. The work, created in 1962 to music by Handel, is “one of the most highly respected dance works of the time for its grace and technical difficulty,” according to PBS. It was taught to Fredonia dancers during a September residency by the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company.
Contrasting Taylor’s work is “Chuchki,” choreographed by Mr. Lehrer as a tribute to the Chuchki tribe of Russia. Set to traditional throat singing, the work utilizes tribal movement sensibilities while showcasing the trademark athleticism of Lehrer Dance.
Ms. Crehan, a professor emeritus at the State University of Buffalo, returns to the Fredonia Dance Ensemble with her piece “Slightly Askew,” a quirky, comedic work “guaranteed to bring a smile to the audience’s faces.”
Other works in the program include choreography by Sam Kenney, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Fredonia dance faculty members Paul W. Mockovak, Helen Myers, Paula J. Peters and Angelika Summerton.
Kenney’s contemporary work, “Leaving,” was originally staged on Rubicon Dance of Cardiff, Wales in October 2016. Set to an evocative score by Dead Can Dance and Lisa Gerrard, the piece creates an ever-shifting movement landscape while exploring the phenomena of time, change and memory.
“Wake Robin,” choreographed by Mockovak, is a thoughtful, lyrical work that illustrates the choices and challenges that couples face in romantic relationships.
Myers, the Artistic Director of the Fredonia Dance Ensemble, offers “It’s a Jungle Out There,” a comedic yet athletic work portraying a day in the life of corporate America.
“The Space Between Doesn’t Exist,” created by Peters, an assistant professor, blends classical jazz and contemporary sensibilities while investigating the question of difference and its relevance in today’s society.
Summerton’s energetic tap piece, “Taiko,” produces impressive counter-rhythms; with dancers playing percussive instruments while tapping to Japanese drum music.
Tickets are available through the Fredonia Campus Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone at 716-673-3501 or online. Performance times are Friday, April 28 and Saturday April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.
The Fredonia Dance Ensemble is presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance as part of the Walter Gloor Mainstage Series. The event is sponsored by Basil Chevrolet, Buick Cadillac as part of the Lake Shore Savings Season.
