SRU dance majors 'Rise' to the occasion
“Rise,” a showcase of original choreography by Slippery Rock University dance majors, will be staged at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Saturday at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.
The two shows will feature new ensemble choreography by Lindsay Viatori, SRU assistant professor of dance, and performances of Martha Graham's historic work, “Celebration.” Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, is still taught around the world.
Jesse Factor, an SRU instructor of dance, served as the director for the Graham piece, a six-minute work that features more than 400 jumps by the performers.
Factor, who danced professionally with the Martha Graham Dance Company and is a certified teacher of the Graham technique, has worked with the SRU cast for the last three months to provide the students with an understanding of Graham's movement vocabulary.
This performance is the premiere of the work by SRU dance majors.
Following its premiere, students will join Factor and Viatori in a faculty-student research project that will see the group perform the piece at the Joyce Theater in New York City as part of the biennial University Partners Showcase.
Both BC3 performances will also feature Viatori's “Nightingale's Song.”
Performers and choreographers for the shows are Brenna Kloes, a sophomore from Sarver; Alyssa Schiffer, a sophomore from Slippery Rock; and Mollie Sweeney, a sophomore from Freeport.
Tickets are $15 and are available by calling 724-738-4926 or at the Succop Theater one hour prior to each performance.
