Fort Scott student in K-State production
MANHATTAN -- From guest artists, student performances and faculty choreography, Kansas State University's SpringDance 2012 has something for everyone to enjoy.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. March 30-31 in McCain Auditorium and will feature a wide variety of dancing and live music.
Marguerite Frederickson, senior in applied music and music education, Fort Scott, is part of the wardrobe crew for the production.
Some of the student works in the program will also be performed at the American College Dance Festival Association Conference, March 21-24, at Missouri State University.
SpringDance 2012 will feature guest artists Nela Niemann and Dorwana Tijan. Niemann will perform a classical ballet work, and Tijan, an artist from Ghana, will teach and perform a traditional West African dance set to an African xylophone ensemble.
The performance will also present faculty choreography in the styles of modern, jazz and tap.
K-State dance program choreographers for the performance include David Ollington, associate professor of dance, Julie Pentz, associate professor of dance, and Jennie Stout, instructor of dance.
Highlighted works include "The Black Hole" by Ollington and two works by Pentz. Her new performance piece will feature excerpts from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, which will be played by the K-State Orchestra.
David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music, will direct the orchestra.
Additionally, the K-State Percussion Ensemble, directed by Kurt Gartner, professor of music, will join the stage for "Echo," a 2008 work by Pentz that is set to an award-winning composition by Neil Dunn, university instructor of dance.
The percussion ensemble will also perform alongside dance students in "Gahu," a traditional West African social dance that is new to the K-State Dance Ensemble.
Tickets are $14 for the general public and $8 for students.
They can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays or by calling McCain at (785) 532-6428 during box office hours. Tickets also may be purchased at the Little Theater box office in the K-State Student Union from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.
More information about SpringDance 2012 is available by contacting Dunn at neildunn@k-state.edu.