CONTACT:                           Elisha Clark etc3@psu.edu

WHO:                                    University Dance Company with the AFI Dance Company

WHEN:                                  Thursday, March 27^th at 8 pm

                                              Friday, March 28^th at 8 pm

WHERE:                                Playhouse Theatre

TICKETS:                               Free and open to the public; no reservation required

INFORMATION:                     Call (814)863-6396 or e-mail psudance@gmail.com

Penn State dance students in the University Dance Company and the AFI Dance Company will be performing original pieces choreographed by faculty of the PSU Dance Theatre in the fourth annual spring show on Thursday, March 27^th and Friday, March 28^th at 8 pm at the Playhouse Theatre located inside the Arts Building on campus.  A reception will be held following the Friday performance where refreshments will be served and viewers will have an opportunity to mingle with choreographers and dancers.  An open dress rehearsal will also be held on Wednesday, March 26^th at 7:30. 

Unbound is directed by Elisha T. Clark and will feature choreography by Elisha T. Clark, Michele Dunleavy, Spence Ford, and Aquila Kikora Franklin.  The performance will also feature original music composed by Mark Ballora, professor of music for the piece entitled “Right Here Right Now.”   All pieces in the show symbolize strong emotion and powerful story-telling through movement of the body, each in its own unique way.       

The show opens with a piece choreographed by Elisha Clark entitled “Twilight.”  Clark attempts to capture the moment before sunrise or after sunset when the Earth is between light and dark, which illuminates the finish of one day and the magical beginning of the next day, through motion.  She uses the idea of twilight as both a goodbye and a hello to the next chapter in dedication to the dance classes of 2004 through 2008.

“Right Here, Right Now” is a new piece choreographed by Michele Dunleavy with original music by School of Music professor Mark Ballora and costume design by Anne Van Kuren.  The piece consists of five dancers exploring the arc between the extremes of reflecting on the past and projecting into the future while trying to find a balance. 

Choreographer Aquila Kikora Franklin will present a piece entitled “Moments.”  “Moments” depicts different moments of love—anticipation, passion, a gentle touch, the first kiss.  Franklin pulled inspiration or her choreography from the works of Dawn Axam.

Franklin will also present “Those Who Paved for Me a Way,” a tribute to African American dance pioneers who blazed a trail for contemporary modern dance in America.  This piece is inspired by their vision and expressed through original choreography. 

Spence Ford will present a piece recognizing the doubt, confusion and fear that plagues the people of today’s world.   Ford’s piece entitled “Polaris” explores the impact of conflicting opinions with a group (or divided mind within an individual) versus the power of dialogue and consensus (and the determination for the individual) in the quest of finding our direction and reaching our goals. 

The show will conclude with a work in progress entitled “Testify” choreographed by Clark.  “Testify” is a section of the full-length piece entitled “Stepping into Darkness,” which will premiere in the fall of 2008.  This piece symbolizes the emotional devastation that happens at the loss of one’s homeland, the distressing impact of displacement and how communities can be formed on the rifts of humanity.        

For more information, please call (814)863-6396 or e-mail psudance@gmail.com.