Colorado State University’s dance program presents its annual Fall Dance Concert on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The concert will be held in the University Dance Theatre at the University Center for the Arts, located at 1400 Remington St.
Student choreographers
The concert consists of an evening of innovative contemporary and classical dance presented by dance faculty, students and a guest artist.
“The Fall Dance Concert is a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with faculty, guest artists, and staff in a professional learning environment,” said director of dance at CSU, Jane Slusarski-Harris. “The concert focuses on an exceptional performing arts experience for the participants and for the audiences.”
Seven student choreographers have been working on their pieces for months. Devon DeSpain, one of the student choreographers, expressed her passion for dance and the importance of her performance.
“I mostly am excited to get my choreography out there to receive feedback and finally get my dance career started,” she said.
This performance is the highlight of these students’ semester and they are excited to share it with their fellow students.
“CSU students should come to the concert because it brings culture, spirituality, and overall joy when you see something creative come together on a stage,” said DeSpain.
Guest artist
Each year the Fall Dance Concert features a guest artist, either as a director, choreographer, or dancer to be a part of this CSU tradition that consists of contemporary and classical dances presented by dance faculty and students.
This fall features the work of Judy Bejarano, who has been on the dance faculty at CSU since 1990 teaching Improvisation, Choreography and Modern Technique. She is also well known for her innovative productions as the artistic director of IMPACT Dance Company, a dance and theatre company whose performances speak to issues in our everyday lives.
With her last choreographed piece for CSU performed in 2010, Bejarano is excited to bring her expertise back to the CSU stage.
“I love working with the students,” she said. “Returning as a guest choreographer provides a different essence to our relationship within the piece – we’re finding the bridge between dancers finding themselves and finding the voice in my work.”
With a career pursuing what she identifies as ‘the human condition of dance,’ Bejarano’s work emphasizes the beauty of individual dancers moving together as a community. In her piece for the Fall Dance Concert, titled “Flocking,” dancers elicit the vision of birds caught in a draft that is constantly changing directions. The movements start slowly and build dramatically throughout the piece.
In addition to “Flocking,” the concert features the choreography and dance work of CSU faculty and students, including excerpts from the celebrated ballet work, Le Corsaire.
Tickets
Ticket cost $8 for CSU students, $8 for youth (under 18) and $18 for the public.
Tickets are available at the UCA ticket office located in the Griffin Lobby, by phone at (970) 491-ARTS (2787), or online. Advance purchase is recommended to avoid at-the-door fees.
About Judy Bejarano
As the artistic director at IMPACT Dance Company, Judy Bejerano collaborates and creates custom events with area art groups as well as private events. Bejarano is increasingly interested in redefining the relationship between performer and audience. Therefore, IMPACT’s work can be found in nontraditional spaces from art galleries, to storefronts, to airplane hangars. Bejarano’s work has been selected for many regional and national festivals including National American College Dance Festival, Colorado Choreographers Showcase and Gala Concert for the National Dance Association Festival.
About the UCA
The University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University provides an enriched venue in which the study and practice of Art, Dance, Music and Theatre are nurtured and sustained by building the skills and knowledge needed by future generations of arts professionals to become contributors to the essential vitality of our culture and society. For more information, visit the UCA’s website.
