SRU dance students to stage Winter Showcase, Feb. 9

Jan. 30, 2020

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — While most students used winter break as an opportunity to relax and recharge, a group of Slippery Rock University dancers were on the move with a variety of rehearsals in preparation for the SRU Winter Showcase, "State of Being." Performances are at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Feb. 9 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The theater, located at 107 College Drive, Butler, PA 16002, is accessible.

Dances for the concert were chosen from letters of intent originally provided by participating students to Ursula Payne, professor of dance and chair of SRU's Department of Dance who also serves as artistic director for the show. Once approved by Payne, students showcased their choreographed works for other students who then auditioned to perform the selected pieces.

Payne and Jennifer Keller, professor of dance and production coordinator for the shows, emphasized the importance of auditioning for the event as it provides valuable experience for the dancer and the student choreographer. "This show is important because many students go on to dance and choreograph at a professional level or apply to graduate school. The works showcased in these concerts are generally what they use to form their professional portfolio," Payne said.

Payne said the "State of Being" theme of the performances is meant to focus on how students engage the body as a medium of communication in order to turn concepts and ideas they felt passionate about, into a work of art.

"One of the things that I've been talking about with my students is the body as a conduit to life experience and how we engage with the world," said Payne. "The body as a means of communication is really prevalent and I think it is one of the staples of communication; you can't communicate and express without the body."

In total, the event will feature 22 dances and a film, with 12 pieces performed at each show thereby providing audiences with a completely different experience each time. Dances will include solos, duets and group dances and feature modern, contemporary and other forms of dance set to a wide range of music.

Guest artist Bill Evans, a choreographer, performer, teacher, movement analyst and founder of Bill Evans Dance, choreographed the tap dance, "YES, INDEED!" for the 2 p.m. show, while Grady McLeod Bowman, a New York-based choreographer and creative artist, choreographed the contemporary piece, "Who We Is," for the 6:30 p.m. performance.

Student choreographers and performers include:
● Reva Adams, a junior dance major from Vero Beach, Florida.
● Kendall Alexander, a senior dual major in dance and psychology from Valley Stream, New York.
● Jordan Allen, a freshman dance major from Dillsburg.
● Taylor Andrekanic, a junior dual major in dance and communication from White Oak.
● Halle Angelo, a sophomore dance major from Indiana.
● Olivia Barner, a senior dual major in exercise science and dance from Hermitage.
● Kali Booker, a sophomore dual major in dance and communication from New Castle.
● Erin Brod, a freshman dance major from Medina, Ohio.
● Ashlin Broody-Walega, a sophomore dual major in dance and psychology from Pringle.
● Auriana Carrington, a freshman dual major in dance and business from Venetia.
● Ilisa Chasser, a freshman dual major in early childhood education and dance from Lancaster.
● Alicea Chludzinski, a freshman dance major from Erie.
● Alyssa Colon, a freshman dance major from Clifton, New Jersey.
● Hannah Corey, a junior dual major in exercise science and dance from Sarver.
● Anna DeRubeis, a sophomore dual major in early childhood and special education and dance from Altoona.
● Brittany DeVincent, a sophomore dance major from Conway.
● Sarah Dietsch, a junior dance major from Russell.
● Morghan Dyer, a sophomore dual major in dance and early childhood education from Stow, Ohio.
● Jenée Ewing, a senior dual major in communication and dance from McKeesport.● Kaitlyn Falce, a junior dual major in exercise science and dance from Pittsburgh.
● Isabel Farr, a sophomore dance major from Avon Lake, Ohio.
● Colette Fischer, a freshman dual major in dance and business from Sylvania, Ohio.
● Anaya Gass, a senior dance major from Vernon, New Jersey.
● Emily Hayson, a sophomore dual major in exercise science and dance from Fombell.
● Sydney Heggen, a freshman dance major from North Huntingdon.
● Ella Hickey, a junior music therapy major from Hummelstown.
● Karin Hoglund, a junior dance major from Wilmette, Illinois.
● Talynn Holman, a junior dance major from Philadelphia.
● Bethany Joyce, a junior dance major from Lancaster.
● Luvenia Kalia, a junior dance major from Georgetown, Malaysia.
● Brenna Kloes, a junior dual major in early childhood and special education and dance from Sarver.
● Wenzday Koskey, a senior dual major in public health and dance from Tarentum.
● Grace Larson, a freshman dance major from Sugar Grove.
● Faythe Lewis, a sophomore dual major in recreational therapy and dance from Tipton.
● Kristina Lewis, a junior dance major from Stow, Ohio.
● Megan Long, a senior mathematics major from Doylestown, Ohio.
● Rachel Male, a freshman dance major from Columbia.
● Lauren McBarron, a senior dance major from Harrison City.
● Caitlin O'Halloran, a freshman dance major from Pittsburgh.
● Airiann Page, a junior dual major in exercise science and dance from Trafford.
● Kelvin Rodriguez, a sophomore dance major from Lancaster.
● Alanna Rygelski, a senior dual major in dance and communication from Glenshaw.
● Hailey Sanders, a junior dual major in exercise science and dance from Altoona.
● Austin Shaffer, a freshman dance major from Granville, Ohio.
● Olivia Shirley, a sophomore dual major in dance and psychology from New Kensington.
● Tiffany Shrom, a senior dance major from Quarryville.
● Natalia Siles Cohello, a freshman dual major in dance and resort, recreation and hospitality management from Sacaba, Bolivia.
● Kaylee Smith, a freshman dance major from Bridgeport, West Virginia.
● Leah Smith, a senior dual major in early childhood education and dance from Murrysville.
● Skylar Smith, a sophomore dance major from Walworth, New York.
● Hayden Summers, a freshman dance major from Charleston, West Virginia.
● Mollie Sweeney, a senior dual major in early childhood and special education and dance from
Freeport.
● Nechelle Trawick, a senior dance major from Philadelphia.
● Elena Turner, a junior dance major from Imperial.
● Catherine Wheeler, a freshman dance major from Haskell, New Jersey.
● Kaitlin Yankovich, a sophomore dance major from Ridgway.
● Sophia Yocum, a freshman dual major in dance and communication from Hummelstown.

Tickets, priced at $15 each, can be purchased in advance at the Smith Student Center Information Desk, by phone at 724.738.4926 or online by clicking here. Tickets can also be purchased prior to each show at the Succop Theater box office.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lesa Bressanelli | 724.738.2091 | lnb1009@sru.edu