SRU Dance Department will ‘RISE’ up Feb. 2

Jan. 18, 2019

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's Dance Theatre will present "RISE," a showcase of original choreography by SRU dance majors, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Feb. 2 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The events will also feature new ensemble choreography by Lindsay Viatori, SRU assistant professor of dance, and performances of Martha Graham's historic work, "Celebration." Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, reshaped American dance and is still taught around the world.

Jesse Factor, an SRU instructor of dance, served as the director for the Graham piece, a six-minute work that features more than 400 jumps by the performers. Factor, who danced professionally with the Martha Graham Dance Company and is a certified teacher of the Graham technique, has worked with the SRU cast for the last three months to provide the students with a deep understanding of Graham's movement vocabulary.

"I have loved sharing this archival work with our dancers, who have boldly risen to the many challenges inherent in the work," said Factor. "Quickly falling onto the floor and recovering with abandon, the dancers have impressed me with their dedication and passion. Seeing 'Celebration' live again is thrilling for its athleticism and abstract beauty."

The February performance will be the premiere of the work by SRU dance majors. Following its premiere, students will join Factor and Viatori in a faculty-student research project that will see the group perform the piece at the Joyce Theater in New York City as part of the biennial University Partners Showcase.

Both BC3 performances will also feature Viatori's "Nightingale's Song."

"I am researching the symbolism of birds," said Viatori. "Frequently, birds are viewed by many cultures as the souls of those who have passed, but they also symbolize death or dark omens. 'Nightingale's Song' explores the dichotomy of the folklore of these feathered creatures."

Choreographers for the shows are:

• Cameron Waters, a junior dance major from New Castle.
• Samuel Elizondo, a junior dance major from Watertown, New York.
• Julia Studer, a senior dance major from Huron, Ohio.
• Whitney Bryan-Chapman, a junior dance major from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
• Lashonda Johnson, a junior dance major from Williamsport.
• Victoria Homschek, a senior dance major from Aliquippa.
• Kaitlin Kulasa, a junior dance major from Belle Vernon.
• Sarah-Korrin DeBiasi, a junior dance major from Wilkes-Barre.
• Olivia Nellis, a junior dance major from Glenshaw.
• Melitta Parzyszek, a senior dance major from Dillsburg.
• Kendall Alexander, a sophomore dance major from Valley Stream, New York.
• Ashleigh Schuler, a junior dance major from Williamsport.

Performers for the shows are:

• Na'Keisha Barber, a senior dance major from Ulysses.
• Isabel Farr, a freshman dance major from Slippery Rock.
• Anaya Gass, a sophomore dance major from Vernon, New Jersey.
• Luvenia Kalia, a freshman dance major from Georgetown, Malaysia.
• Morgan Kluck, a freshman early childhood education major from Strongsville, Ohio.
• Hailey Sanders, a freshman exercise science major from Altoona.
• Olivia Shirley, a freshman dance major from New Kensington.
• Victoria Stachelrodt, a junior dance major from Franklin.
• Kaitlin Yankovich, a freshman dance major from Ridway.
• Reva Adams, a freshman dance major from Vero Beach, Florida.
• Kari Hoglund, a freshman dance major from Wilmette, Illinois.
• Olivia Nellis, a junior dance major from Glenshaw.
• Alyssa Orrico, a senior exercise science major from Buffalo, New York.
• Julia Studer, a senior dance major from Huron, Ohio.
• Taylor Andrekanic, a freshman dance major from White Oaks.
• Sarah-Korrin DeBiasi, a junior dance major from Wilkes-Barre.
• Kaitlyn Falce, a freshman dance major from Pittsburgh.
• Molly Huey, a junior dance major from Warren.
• Airiann Page, a freshman dance major from Trafford.
• Hannah Schneible, a junior dance major from Rochester, New York.
• Tiffany Shrom, a sophomore dance major from Quarryville.
• Halle Angelo, a freshmen dance major from Indiana.
• Logun Beck, a sophomore dance major from Cherry Tree.
• Jade Daniels, a freshman dual dance and exercise science major from Hurricane.
• Lashonda Johnson, a junior dance major from Williamsport.
• Faythe Lewis, a freshman dance major from Tipton.
• Kelvin Rodriguez, a freshman dance major from Lancaster.
• Skylar Smith, a freshman dance major from Walworth.
• Kendall Alexander, a sophomore dance major from Valley Stream, New York.
• Bethany Joyce, a freshman dance major from Lancaster.
• Kaitlin Kulasa, a junior dance major from Belle Vernon.
• Nechelle Trawick, a sophomore dance major from Philadelphia.
• Bailey Turner, a freshman dual dance and psychology major from McClellandtown.
• Cameron Waters, a junior dance major from New Castle.
• Lashonda Johnson, a junior dance major from Williamsport.
• Victoria Homschek, a senior dance major from Aliquippa.
• Ashley Barron, a sophomore public health major from Fryburg.
• Sam Elizondo, a junior dance major from Watertown, New York.
• Brenna Kloes, a sophomore early childhood/special education major from Sarver.
• Wenzday Koskey, a junior biology major from Tarentum.
• Madeline McKissick, a sophomore dance major from Johnstown.
• Melitta Parzyszek, a senior dance major from Dillsburg.
• Alisha Pelkey, a junior dance major from Woodbine, Maryland.
• Emily Ragland, a junior dance major from Strongsville, Ohio.
• Caroline Ready, a senior dance major from Allison Park.
• Alyssa Schiffer, a sophomore dance major from Slippery Rock.
• Julia Studer, a senior dance major from Huron, Ohio.
• Mary Thompson, a senior dual dance psychology major from Niagara Falls, Ontario.
• Leah Smith, a junior early childhood education major from Murrysville.
• Olivia Barner, a freshman exercise science major from Hermitage.
• Shannon O' Reilly, a junior dance major from Hanover.
• Lauren Kerensky, a freshmen dual dance and science major from Canfield, Ohio.
• Mollie Sweeney, a sophomore early childhood/ special education major from Freeport.
• Megan Long, a junior mathematics major from Doylestown, Ohio.
• Kirstin Seager, a freshman dance major from Reading, Michigan.
• Jenna Simpson, a freshman dual dance and early childhood/special education major from Arlington Heights, Illinois.
• Vanessa Adams, a freshman exercise science major from Lower Burrell.
• Anaya Gass, a sophomore dance major from Vernon, New Jersey.
• Cameron Waters, a junior dance major from New Castle.
• Jenee Ewing, a sophomore communication major from McKeesport.
• Ashleigh Schuler, a junior dance major from Williamsport.
• Jean Carrio, a junior dance major from Arlington, Texas.
• Lauren McBarron, a sophomore dance major from Harrison City.
• Corinne Zeni, a sophomore dual dance and exercise science major from Morgantown, West Virginia.

Tickets, priced at $15 each, can be purchased in advance at the Smith Student Center Information Desk, by phone at 724.738.4926 or at the Succop Theater one hour prior to each performance.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robb.king@sru.edu