The Webster University Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance Presents Thoughts: a Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance Concert.  Featuring ten works from four different choreographers, the concert explores different aspects of energetic and nostalgic memories, personalities, classical ballet technique, relationships and various personal challenges. All the original works in Thoughts are from Ashley Drumm, Ashley McQueen, Sam Mitchell and Paige Walden. The performances will be Thurs. and Fri., Oct. 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. in Stage III, Lower level of Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave. Tickets are free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open one half hour prior to curtain. For more information, contact: 314-968-7128, email dance@webster.edu or visit: Webster.edu/dance. All of the performances are free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Ashley Drumm (St. Louis, MO) has been teaching at Villa West Dance and Acrobatics for two years. At Webster, she has performed at the Regional American College Dance Festival, Dancing in the Street Festival (STL), in Webster University Dance Ensemble, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts Concerts. Professionally, Ashley has performed in Aerial Fusion, a concert choreographed and directed by Monica Newsam, presented by ANNONYArts.

Ashley McQueen (Montgomery, AL) began her training with the Alabama Dance Theatre, and spent two years at Birmingham-Southern College before transferring to Webster in 2011. While at Birmingham-Southern, Ashley received the Fine Arts Society Award for Excellence in Dance and Faculty Dance Honors Award for Choreography in 2011. For summer study, she trained with the American Ballet Theater, Alabama Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has choreographed multiple works, including three that were chosen to be performed at Southeast Regional Ballet Association Festival Performances. Ashley has set works on Southern Danceworks and the Arova Contemporary Ballet, where she danced professionally for a season in 2011. She received the Monticello Award and full tuition scholarship to attend the National Choreography Intensive, once as a dancer in 2008 and once as a choreographer in 2012; as well as a scholarship to the Glenda Brown Choreography Project. Ashley is a member of Webster University Dance Ensemble.

McQueen will be completing her BFA choreographic project in the Spring of 2013, but is honored to be performing her solo piece in this production. She describes this work by its “…use of gestures and quick, musical movement, inspired by classical technique and contemporary movement style”.

Sam Mitchell (Saint Louis, MO) began his concert dance training at Webster University in 2009. While attending Webster he has performed with The Slaughter Project, Dawn Karlovsky, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri Ballet Theater and Webster University Dance Ensemble, where he was honored to perform in the gala concerts of The American College Dance Festival, including The 2010 National American College Dance Festival at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Sam's three works presented in “Thoughts” explore the relationships built by humans in corresponding to family, self, and friends.

Paige Walden (Cincinnati, OH) has studied modern, choreography, ballet, tap, jazz, and improvisation at the American Dance Festival in North Carolina, East Auckland Performing Arts in New Zealand, Principia College Winter Intensive, and the American College Dance Festival.  Paige is a member of Webster University Dance Ensemble and received a Dance Demo fellowship from the Department of Dance for her exemplary work in arts education.  Her versatile choreographic voice has been presented in Webster University’s Opera production of Orpheus, Nagle Middle School’s musicals such as Peter Pan and Oklahoma, and Webster University’s Creations Concerts.

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