SRU dance, theatre and art students converge for 60x60 concert

Slippery Rock University’s Dance, Theatre and Art Departments will present a multimedia concert consisting of 60 one-minute pieces Sept. 27.

Sept. 25, 2018

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - What would it be like to enjoy the performing arts on a Snapchat timetable but actually see it right before your eyes? Well, it's time to put away your phone and bring your short attention span to Slippery Rock University as the Dance, Theatre and Art Departments present "60x60 2018." The multimedia concert, consisting of 60 one-minute pieces, will be performed at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Sept. 27, at the McKay Education Building Dance Studio. Tickets are $2 and can be purchased at the door.

"I like to tell people to come and ride the wave of the show," said Victoria Homschek, a senior dual major in dance and theatre from Aliquippa. "There are going to be some pieces that are funny, or sad, or you have no idea what's going on, but that's all the fun of it, just seeing all of our creative minds put together."

The Dance Department has hosted the 60x60 concert for the last nine years, but new this year is a collaboration with theatre and art. More than 50 students from the departments will work with one another, some on multiple performances, like Homschek who is contributing to five pieces.

Andy Hasenpflug, instructor of dance, introduced 60x60 to SRU based on a concept created by Vox Novus, a group that provides the music mix for the show with 60 different clips. The dance performances are abstract and often based on the mood of the music. For example, one of Homschek's pieces has a lot of jumps and buoyant movement while another student's piece will be based on the sounds of wind chimes.

"There's going to be something that you like or something that you don't like, but if you don't like something, that's OK, because it's over in 60 seconds," Hasenpflug said. "It functions on the short-attention span theater level that we live in, so it's not like going to a movie or a play where there's a plot to follow."

SRU's Theatre Department is contributing with non-dialogue scenes. For example, Homschek is working with a student from the Playwriting class, Jenna Moses, an English writing major from South Park, on a 60-second scene where a man and woman sort through old toys like a ballerina doll and teddy bear set to a music-box tune. Art students will "perform" a live demonstration with a projector screen positioned above a canvas for the audience to see.

"It's a really interesting format that works really well and they do a good job putting it together," Hasenpflug added.

At press time, organizers identified the following students as participating in the project as choreographers, painters and/or playwrights:
• Laura Ardner, a sophomore dance major from York.
• Na'Keisha Barber, a senior dance major from Ulysses.
• Miriam Bates, a sophomore dual major in dance and history from Mercer.
• Naomi Bates, a sophomore dual major in dance and theatre from Mercer.
• Araycia Byers, a junior art major from New Castle.
• Cameron Cavaliere, a sophomore dual major in English writing and political science from Crescent.
• Hannah Corey, a sophomore dual major in dance and exercise science from Sarver.
• Sarah Korrin DeBiasi, a senior dance major from Wilkes-Barre.
• Sarah Dietsch, a sophomore dance major from Russell.
• Kaitlyn Falce, a sophomore dual major in dance and exercise science from Pittsburgh.
• Rosie Franklin, a junior dual major in dance and recreational therapy from Milan, Michigan.
• Zachary Frisco, a sophomore English writing major from Pittsburgh.
• Sarah Getway, a senior theatre major from Sharpsville.
• Jessica Giuliano, a senior art major from Elizabethtown.
• Natalie Goforth, a senior dual major in dance and early childhood education from Avon, Ohio.
• Emma Gray, an international student from Prestonpans, Scotland.
• Kathryn Hines, a junior dance major from Cranberry Township.
• Victoria Homschek, a senior dual major in dance and theatre from Aliquippa.
• Molly Huey, a senior dual major in dance and communication from Warren.
• Lashonda Johnson, a junior dance major from Williamsport.
• Bethany Joyce, a sophomore dance major from Lancaster.
• Paulina Kentosova, a freshman exploratory major from Vranov nad Topl'ou, Slovakia.
• Kaitlin Kulasa, a senior dance major from Belle Vernon.
• Victoria Lowrey, a senior dual major in dance and interdisciplinary studies from Harrisville.
• Tabitha Mariello, a junior dual major in English writing and modern languages and cultures from Biddeford, Maine.
• Emilie McElhenie, a senior dual major in dance and recreational therapy from New Cumberland.
• Madeline McKissick, a junior dual major in dance and English writing from Johnstown.
• Viktoria Minina, a sophomore communication from Lititz.
• Jenna Moses, a junior English writing major from South Park.
• Shannon O'Reilly, a senior dance major from Hanover.
• Riley Parise, a sophomore philosophy major from Lake City.
• Daniella Parks, a junior dual major in dance and exercise science from Medina, Ohio.
• Melitta Parzyszek, a senior dance major from Dillsburg.
• Rachel Peterson, a sophomore art major from Russell.
• Caroline Ready, a senior dance major from Allison Park.
• Allana Rygelski, a sophomore dual major in dance and communication from Glenshaw.
• Alyssa Schiffer, a junior dance major from Slippery Rock.
• Hannah Schneible, a senior dance major from Rochester, New York.
• Ashleigh Schuler, a senior dance major from Williamsport.
• Michael Scrivens, a senior communication major from Rochester, New York.
• Tiffany Shrom, a junior dance from Lancaster.
• Clarissa Spahr, a sophomore art major from Beaver Falls.
• Erikka Spaid, a senior art major from Coalport.
• Julia Studer, a senior dance major from Huron, Ohio.
• Caitlyn Sweetland, a senior art major from Volant.
• Gianna Tegler, a senior dance major from Rochester, New York.
• Alyson Vanalmsick, a senior dual major in secondary education-English and dance from Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
• Erik Warmbein, a sophomore history major from Pittsburgh.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu