SRU hosting annual Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert, Oct. 22

The Slippery Rock University Dance Department will host its annual Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 22, at the Miller Theater in the Performing Arts Center.

Oct. 17, 2022

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University Dance Department will host its annual Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 22, at the Miller Theater in the Performing Arts Center. The Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert features dances created by SRU dance faculty as well as internationally known guest artists. Tickets can be purchased online at sru.edu/tickets or at the Smith Student Center information desk. Cost is $15 for general admission.

This year's guest artist is Helen Simoneau, a French-Canadian dance artist based in New York City, who was commissioned to restage an excerpt of her work "Paper Wings" for the concert. This commission was part of SRU's Faculty Student Research Grant under the direction of Lindsay Viatori, associate professor of dance. Simoneau worked with 14 SRU dance majors during a 10-day residency in September to prepare for the concert.

Other performances will include:

• "Steps in the Street," a historical reconstruction of a work by modern dance pioneer Martha Graham, restaged by Elizabeth Eauclair and Jesse Factor featuring 12 SRU dancers. Premiered in 1936, this work was a choreographic protest against the rise of European fascism.
• Three works by Nora Ambrosio, professor of dance, including "Don't Let it Get You Down," a jazz dance featuring 16 SRU dancers, and "Going, Going, Gone," and "Follow the Sun," two modern dance pieces featuring a combined 16 dancers.
• Jennifer Keller, professor of dance and department chair, will present "Coyote Heaven" with students from her dance repertory class. The ensemble work for 18 performers is an a cappella study of rhythm and vocalization.
• Andy Hasenpflug, SRU dance musician, will present "As One Listens to the Rain" which manipulates Octavio Paz's poem of the same name through the audio platform Ableton Live.
• Palenque, SRU's Colombian dance ensemble directed by dance Melissa Teodoro, SRU professor of dance, will present a newly reconstructed historic Andean dance titled "Bambuco Santafereño," and a carnival dance titled "La Danza del Garabato."
• Ryan McMullen, instructor of dance, will present two pieces: "SPL\T," a duet with Jenna Hanlon, a 2015 SRU graduate, and "ROVE," featuring 12 dance majors and a projection design by Emily Elliott, assistant professor of art.

For more information call 724.738.2036 or visit the SRU Dance Department webpage.

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