Body Talk

GAMBIER, Ohio (April 26, 2010) Artists who speak with their bodies will have a lot to say about love, joy, and random encounters during the Spring Dance Concert, April 28-30, at Bolton Theater.

The Department of Dance and Drama takes advantage of a revolving door of prominent guest artists this semester to help infuse the concert with choreography and provide the instruction that makes it move. "The students' understanding of diverse approaches gives them breadth of experience and a more versatile range as performers and choreographers," said Kora Radella, visiting assistant professor of dance.

"Dance is obviously thriving at Kenyon."

In Strung, Radella takes on a piece created for her by New York City-based choreographer Bill Young and then hands off the solo on successive nights to senior students Stephanie Küng of New York City and Katie Crowell of River Forest, Illinois. The dance investigates "an alternative style of dance phraseology" while the dancer shifts into different performance states and the audience looks on as if "watching an animal," Young said in a statement.

Guest artist Alexandra Beller, artistic director of Alexandra Beller/Dances of New York City, contributed Forever's gonna start tonight, with a 1980s vibe and music that includes the Bonnie Tyler pop hit Total Eclipse of the Heart. Ten dance seniors find their way through a witty search for love. The piece is "wonderfully rich and fun," Radella said.

In Declassified, Olivier P. Tarpaga, visiting instructor of dance and artistic co-director of the Baker & Tarpaga Dance Project of Columbus, Ohio, considers the rise and fall of individuals and society and questions the price of self-expression and independence.

Balinda Craig-Quijada, associate professor of dance, sends six performers on a journey of random encounters over an "imagistic terrain" in Air, she said.

Student choreographers Shaina Cantino, a senior from Athens, Ohio, sophomore Emily Polizzotto of New York City, and senior Sasha Eve Rockwell of New York City each contributed a piece for the concert. Cantino blends theater and dance and uses some performers who have no formal dance training. Polizzotto invites audience interpretation of her work, a piece that originally told the story about "a man in trouble" but has evolved in meaning. And Rockwell uses Slavic music to create a "happy anecdote to a terrible history" in the region.

Andrew Reinert, associate professor of drama, designed the costumes, which were created by Deborah Clark, costume shop manager. The stage manager is sophomore Angela Coleman of Philadelphia.

Senior dancers include Cantino; Crowell; Joy Doyle of Smyrna, Delaware; Katherine Ernst of Chesterland, Ohio; Nicole Green of Columbus, Ohio; Sara Hirsch of Santa Monica, California; Caroline Hiteshew of Montclair, New Jersey; Küng; Alicia LaPalombara of Merion Station, Pennsylvania; Emma Lippincott of Ashby, Massachusetts; Rania Manganaro of Highland Park, New Jersey; Mark McCarter of Lake Oswego, Oregon; Roseann Proctor of Eugene, Oregon; Rockwell; and Morgan Scudder-Davis of Paint Lick, New York.

The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. on all nights. Tickets are $5 for general admission; $2.50, group; $2, seniors, non-Kenyon students, children; $1, Kenyon students. Call 740-427-5546 and visit www.kenyon.edu/danceanddrama.xml to learn more.