LERON WELLINGTON
Staff Writer
Talented dancers. Choreography from around the world. What is there not to like? This week, one of the campus’s annual favorites returns.
The Fredonia Dance Ensemble, showcasing student’s year long work, will grace audiences with new and quality dance pieces from April 27 to 30 in Marvel Theatre.
In its 11th consecutive season, we can expect to see choreography from the dance faculty and guests artists. Jasmine Mattar, a senior dance major, said that audiences can anticipate seeing pieces that tell many different stories.
“[There is a] wide variety of stuff. You are going to see comedic pieces, ones with a lot of energy, and some emotional ones too. And every one has a point,” she said.
Works from the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company, Attack Theatre and Lehrer Dance Company are special treats brought to the campus from residencies.
John Lehrer, who is choreographing his piece “Chuchi,” is looking forward to seeing it on the Marvel stage.
“It’s been great because it’s just as beneficial for me as it has been for them. It’s a piece that already exists but it becomes very different when I give it to them. It’s very exciting to see where we’ll go with it and see the students adapt to the choreography,” said Lehrer.
The seven pieces to be performed range in styles from latin jazz to modern and have been rehearsed throughout the year.
Mamiko Nakatsugawa, a sophomore dance and theatre arts minor, is performing a number of pieces and appreciates the range of each piece.
She said, “Each piece has different stories. They all have important things to tell. I think audiences can see the same stories, but impact them differently on each person.”
Christopher Victor, a senior double dance and audio/radio production major, has performed in FDE three times and this will be his last performance here.
“I will definitely miss performing here and I have learned so much each year from professors and guest choreographers,” he said.
The students have being in rehearsals all year long and have learned to prepare themselves for the physically demanding pieces. Jasmine Joyner, a senior dance major, said, “Being that we are seniors, we are able to be in more pieces. Being that we are upperclassmen it’s more time consuming. You have to have the right mindset to help prepare your body physically and emotionally.”
Tickets can be bought in the Ticket Office and are $20 for the general public and $15 for students and children.
John Lehrer
“It’s been great because it’s just as beneficial for me as it has been for them., It’s a piece that already exists but it becomes very different when I give it to them. There are more people [and] they are
students of different levels but, it never sacrifices the quality. It’s very exciting to see where we’ll go with it and see the students adapt to the choreography.”