The Webster University Dance Ensemble 2010 Performs

The Webster University Dance Ensemble 2010, under the artistic direction of Beckah Voigt, presents a concert full of images, emotions and kinetics that explore new territory for audiences and performers alike. The company has over 35 students performing in eight dances; six are original pieces of choreography, two are classics. The dancers are trained in ballet-pointe, jazz, modern, contemporary, aerial and fluidly express themselves through their technique. The ensemble performs on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. Sunday’s performance on April 18 begins at 2 p.m. only. All performances are on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road. Admission is $12 for the general public and $6 for seniors. Call the fine arts hotline at 314-968-7128 for tickets, and 314-968-6936; or dance@webster.edu for more information.

The Dance Ensemble is honored this year to perform Escapades, due to the generous support of Sylvia Waters, Carol Vollet-Kingston and Tim Hunter. Escapades is choreographed by Alvin Ailey and restaged by Iyun Harrison. Escapades premiered in the United States in 1993; The New York Times called it "...breathtaking in its invention."

Jimena Paz, a native of Argentina and New York based dance maker, is a guest artist at Webster this spring, formerly with Stephen Petronio Company and Martha Clarke. Ñ for Foreign, choreographed and directed by Ms. Paz, is a new creation for the Dance Ensemble inspired by the dancers.

Iyun Harrison created two unique works for the concert this year. This is his second season with Webster Dance Ensemble, having joined Webster’s full time dance faculty last year, bringing a wealth of knowledge from Juilliard School, and Hollins University. Mr. Harrison’s contemporary pointe piece, Octet: Ludus, with music by Arvo Pärt is a formalist exploration of neoclassical dance vocabularies. It focuses on musical visualization, space, bodyline and pushing the technical possibilities of these young artists.

Christine Kardell has choreographed Prism, an intriguing contemporary pointe piece for nine dancers that explores the refraction and reflection of white light through the glass of a prism.

Beckah Voigt, Artistic Director of Webster Dance Ensemble has created and directed a solo, Idiopathic Transmissions, in collaboration with her dancers. It is based on experiences of seizure disorders and utilizes live vocal self-accompaniment with a sound score created by Alan Schilling, the Music Director for the Dance Program. Several ropes are incorporated into the choreography.

Inside Out with music by Trilok Gurtu and choreography by Monica Newsam is an abstract interpretation of the human brain, from the inner quiet moments to the more accelerated thoughts. The dance uses an aerial cube allowing the choreography to be framed and explore new movement possibilities.

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