Dancing to a different beat: Dance ensemble twists routine with pop culture
April 24, 2015
By Megan Doll
The UK Dance Ensemble will present its spring concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Singletary Center for the Arts’ Recital Hall.
This semester’s concert will feature a variety of dance forms, including modern and contemporary dance, musical theatre and jazz.
Student choreographers, along with guest choreographers, have taken different ideas from music, movies and other arts and explored them. The performance consists of 11 dances and each one was created with a different inspiration.
“A semester’s worth of classes and rehearsals goes into this,” Dance Ensemble Director Rayma Beal said. “Preparing the program, getting the poster ready, getting costumes organized, laying the marley dance floor — (it’s) all part of the process.”
Two guest choreographers, Rebecca Stephenson and Lydia Austin, have created pieces for the show. Stephenson choreographed a contemporary piece with music by Bobby McFerrin. Austin’s piece is accompanied by bluegrass music.
“The audience really needs to pay attention to the titles of each piece, because the titles give a clue to the idea that the choreographers had,” Beal said.
Tickets are available at the Singletary Center for the Arts Box Office or by calling 859-257-4929.
The prices range from $5-15 for UK staff and students.
Kristin Carney, a family science senior and member of the Dance Ensemble, is taking a new twist on a pop culture icon and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
“I choreographed a jazz piece to ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson. It’s about two dance crews that become one in the end,” Carney said. “I actually put my own spin on it and decided not to use any traditional Michael Jackson moves. Hopefully it will be a hit.”
Dance Ensemble treasurer Sarah Bailey said audiences should pay attention throughout the show.
“Watch for all the different personalities of all the dancers come through, especially the ideas and the feelings of the choreographers,” Bailey said. “We put our hearts and souls into these dances and for people to know the messages and take them to heart.”
