Who are you?
Each fall, the Wooster Dance Company attempts to answer this question by presenting a concert in the modern dance style.† Professor of Theatre and Dance Kim Tritt states that modern dance is a reflection of ìhuman nature Ö that is representative of contemporary ideals and notions.”† It evolves and evokes the personalities of the choreographer and dancer.† It connects to the essence of identity. It answers the question, ìwho are you?”
The Wooster Dance Company is gearing up for the Fall Dance Concert, which will be presented Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8:15 p.m.
The Fall Dance Concert is held at Freedlander Theatre in the Round.† Tritt describes the ìin the round” style as a ìpost-modern ideal that puts the audience with the performers.”† For the concert, the audience will be seated around the stage in bleachers and chairs as dancers perform in the middle.† Catherine Trainor í11, one of the choreographers for this yearís concert, says she likes the ìin the round” style because the audience ìcan choose the perspective from which he or she would like to view the dance.”
ìItís really unique for both dancers and audience members,” she states.† ìYou donít have the idea of secretness [on stage.]”
Trainor is one of 11 student choreographers preparing numbers for this yearís concert.† Because the concert is approximately an hour in length, auditions will be held in October to determine which dances will be performed during the concert. Any interested student can choreograph a dance for the audition, and no previous experience is required. Six of the 11 choreographers have choreographed pieces previously for the dance concert, and the remaining five are new choreographers.
To prepare for the concert, dancers and choreographers participate in weekly ìsharing” meetings to discuss the progress of the choreography as well as to plan the artistic elements of the show.† Students in the Department of Theatre and Danceís Lighting Design course attend these meetings as well to plan designs for each pieceís lighting arrangement.† Students also have the opportunity to receive feedback on the progress of their choreography.
According to Tritt, choreographing a work for the Fall Dance Concert is a beneficial and educational process for students because it offers insight into ìhow students think about dance as well as how they work, manage time and learn about themselves Ö It is an important process” for students involved.† Trainor agrees.† After previously choreographing a piece in her first year, Trainor has evolved as a choreographer.† Her piece this year ìis very technical and sharp,” she explains, which differs from the ìfluid” style she embodied two years ago.
Though the dances are still in development, Trainor is confident about the quality of the show the Wooster Dance Company will produce.† ìItíll be a really strong show,” she states, ìprobably with more variety than in previous years.”
Tickets to the Fall Dance Concert are free for all attendees, and interested persons may reserve seats up to one week before the performance.† Seats are limited, however, and Tritt recommends obtaining tickets as soon as possible.