Principals of choreography, a unique class at Southern Utah University taught by professor Halie Bahr, will be presenting their student-choreographed and directed dance showcase in the auditorium at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5.
In order to take principles of choreography, students have to have taken at least three specific dance classes, improv, composition one and composition two. Students then learn more in-depth choreography skills from Bahr.
“In the principles of choreography class, you’re learning a higher level of dance composition, and this composition is more to look inward at yourself as a choreographer and really find out who you are in that sense,” said student choreographer Allie Misbach.
Misbach, along with her fellow students, choreographed the pieces that will be shown in the performance. There are a total of five dances, with the entire runtime of the concert lasting roughly one hour. In the dances, choreographers had the opportunity to make new discoveries about dance.
“Choreography classes differ from technique classes, because you get to really decide who you are as an artist, and kind of it’s almost like a self discovery type class,” said student choreographer Gracie Urban-Breed.
When titling the concert, the students came to the conclusion that all of their pieces had vastly different messages and concepts. Ultimately, they chose to name the showcase “What is the message?”
“We all are looking for audience interpretation of what our pieces are, and so I think that’s where it came from,” said Misbach. “Honestly, the question is, what is the message to you?”
The differences between the pieces also contributes to the strength of the showcase’s theme.
“None of us dance the same, and none of us create work that is the same,” said student choreographer Tyrese Sheriff. “I think with this show, there’s kind of something for everyone.”
Following the performance, there will be a Q&A will the choreographers and Bahr to discuss the process of creating the showcase.
Author: Tessa Cheshire
Photos courtesy of Abigail Fausett
arts@suunews.net
