Students ready to perform in new space
Slippery Rock University's Department of Dance will hold its first performance in the renovated Miller Theater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The annual Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert will feature more than 45 students in dances choreographed by faculty and artists Teena Marie Custer of Pittsburgh and Cameron McKinney of New York.
Nora Ambrosio, professor of dance and concert production coordinator, said the department has been preparing for the concert since last spring and that they are excited to be in the new facility.
“When (students) walked in it was very emotional,” Ambrosio said. “It's like being in a different world, and we're not used to it.”
The theater's renovation was part of a $33 million expansion to SRU's Performing Arts Complex. The highlight of the space is a 2,600-square-foot stage, which has seating for 753 attendees.
Further, the Miller Theater features state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment as well as two new dance studios and dressing rooms.
For the past 11 years, the university's Faculty and Guest Artist Concert was held in Butler County Community College's Succop Theater. Ambrosio said it was a challenge moving the concert to another venue for so long.The performance space at SRU officially opened in late August, and accommodated students for their first tech rehearsal Tuesday.“We're still working out the kinks (of the space),” Ambrosio said. “We have the best staff and crew, and we're making it work.”The concert will feature 15 dances choreographed by faculty and the internationally recognized guest artists.Custer was commissioned by SRU to create a hip-hop dance titled “The Shade” with SRU freshman and sophomore dance students.
“This dance features our newer students and we are thrilled to be able to give them an opportunity to work with an established artist such as Custer,” said Jennifer Keller, professor of dance and department chairwoman, in a release.McKinney was brought in to create a dance titled “Furrowed” for junior and senior dance majors.“This dance was created for the upperclassmen, and it is thrilling to see them all back in the studio and working with a choreographer who has given them a great challenge,” Keller said in a release.
Among the numbers are two historic works with their steps dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Attendees can also expect a number of contemporary and modern works.Other program highlights include two historic dances choreographed by modern dance pioneers. Contemporary dances by SRU dance faculty and a musical performance by Andy Hasenpflug, SRU dance musician, will also be included in the program.Ambrosio encouraged the public to come out to the performance on Saturday.“We're thrilled to be back in our theater,” Ambrosio said. “I was almost sobbing I was so excited.”Tickets for the Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert can be purchased for $15 at the Robert Smith Center, at sru.universitytickets.com or by calling 724-738-4926.
