The performance will be streamed at www.elonperformingarts.com at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13. Friday's performance will be preceded by a conversation with the concert choreographers at 6:30 p.m.
The Department of Performing Arts will present its Spring Dance Concert on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13.
The concert will be streamed at www.elonperformingarts.com at 7:30 p.m. each night. Friday night’s performance will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. with “Art Through an Inclusive Lens: A conversation with the Spring Dance Concert choreographers,” with a Zoom link provided here 15 minutes before the discussion.
The Spring Dance Concert consists of seven dance works created by four Elon faculty choreographers and three guest choreographers including Gaspard Louis, Cheri Stokes and Clarice Young.
Some of the themes explored through these works include activism, women’s empowerment, mental health, isolation, free expression, and liberation during these unprecedented times. The works contain some adult language and themes but otherwise are suitable for children.
Gaspard Louis is the founder and artistic director of Gaspard & Dancers and was a dancer with Pilobolus Dance Theater. Cheri Stokes is currently an associate producer at Urban Bush Women in New York and is a choreographer based in Brooklyn. Clarice Young is an assistant professor of Dance at UNC-Greensboro and was a dancer with Camile A. Brown & Dancers and Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE, A Dance Company, before serving as the rehearsal director.
Biographies of Elon faculty choreographers Casey Avaunt, Renay Aumiller, Jen Guy Metcalf and Alexandra Joye Warren and students participating in the performance as well as a digital program are available here.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Choreographed by Cheri Stokes
Movement Invention: Cheri Stokes and Cassidy Perry
Music Credit: Sound design by Cheri Stokes using music samples from Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Mary J. Blige and Notorius B.I.G.
Costume Design: Cheri Stokes and Cassidy Perry
Rehearsal Assistant: Lauren Jacobbe and Jessica Werfel
This solo infuses the ideas and perspectives of myself and Cassidy’s experiences with Hip-Hop Culture, Contemporary Dance, our movement lineage and histories, and weaving those experiences into the work.
Relentless
Choreographed by Casey Avaunt in collaboration with the dancers
Costume Design: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Music Credit: “Hotel Terminus” by Circus Marcus
Girls In My Neighborhood
Choreographed by Alexandra Joye Warren in collaboration with the dancers
Video Projection: Jeremy Hyler
Music Credit: Unbearable (original composition) by Nicholas Rich, Autumn by Konovalov Music
Text Credit: James Baldwin (Excerpt from “The Struggle”), Angela Davis (Excerpt from “On Becoming an Activist”)
Space Between, Within, Without
Choreographed by Gaspard Louis
Music Credit: Michael Wall
As movers, our natural instinct is to soak up the space around us. However, In the age of Covid-19, we find ourselves in situations where we’re forced to practice self-isolation and remain at a minimum 6 feet from one another. Space Between, Within, Without, is an exploration of the space, the air, and the joy of being able to move freely in an environment larger than 6 x 6 boundaries.
Triggered
Choreographed by Renay Aumiller
Movement Invention: The dancers
Music Credit: “What’s Up?” by Linda Perry and “Listen Before I Go” instrumental by Billie Eilish & Finneas. Edited for the purposes of this performance.
Costume Design: Caitlin Duncan
Kicking Glass
Choreographed by Jen Guy Metcalf in collaboration with the dancers and Eileena Boyce
Music Credit: “Metamorphosis No. 2” by Philip Glass, “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Ritchie Cordell & Marty Kupersmith
re(belle)
Choreographed by Clarice Young
Music Credit: “Yeah” and “Big Booty Problem” by Full Crate, “Desire and the Burning Girl” and “New Jack Bounce” by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Costume Design: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Dance Film
Choreographed by Cheri Stokes
Music Credit: Sound design by Cheri Stokes using music samples from Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Mary J. Blige and Notorius B.I.G.
Costume Design: Cheri Stokes and dancers
Production Team
Artistic Director: Jen Guy Metcalf
Costume Coordinator: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Sound Designer: Michael Smith
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
Technical Director: J.P. Mullican
Stage Manager: Sydney Sirkin
Props Master: Natalie Hart
Light Board Operator: Bill Webb
Sound Board Operator: Michael Smith
Deck Chief: J.P. Mullican
Front-of-House Supervisor: David McGraw
House Manager: Jack Morrill
Poster Design: Sydney Dye
Video Recording: JaySnapps Media LLC, Jermaine Studwell