The University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble will host a spring concert on April 13 for its final performance of the academic year.

The spring concert will feature a diverse array of choreography that will highlight many different styles of dance and music.

Freshman dancer Kendall Jones said many of the dances in this semester’s show will display fascinating storylines.

“There are a lot of story pieces in this particular show which is why I’m super excited for this one,” Jones said. “It is impossible not to like tear [up] or get chills.”

UK Dance Ensemble is a student-run organization that provides UK students with the ability to explore various dance styles and learn from their peers. This gives them the opportunity to grow as dancers and make new friends. 

Students prepare all of the choreography, costumes and sets for every ensemble performance themselves. 

Sophomore Lauren Tassie choreographed two dance pieces that will be featured in the upcoming show and said she is eager to watch them come to life.

“I’m really excited to see [the pieces] on stage,” Tassie said. “I’ve seen them progress throughout the weeks and now they’re done and… here we go!”

Dance Ensemble performs once every semester. Due to that, the group possesses a short amount of time in between performances to audition, rehearse and perfect pieces before the next show.

“It’s pretty fast,” Tassie said. “I’m surprised at how fast it moves. In my previous dance [experiences], it takes like seven, eight months to finally see something come together. But the fact that we can put it on so fast is pretty cool.”

Aside from a great production, freshman Connell O’Brien said he believes there is one thing the audiences are guaranteed to notice during the concert: energy.

“Dance is an escape,” O’Brien said. “You can go and you just can dance and just feel free. So I feel like an audience member is going to feel that energy and see the passion through the movement.”

UK Dance Ensemble’s spring concert begins at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center. Tickets can be bought at www.lexingtononlyric.tix.com.