Spring Break
'Intricacies' showcases program
Sean Smith
Issue date: 5/29/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The performance showcases the talent of the student dancers, not only in performing, but also in the actual choreography and design of pieces.
The interesting part about the Drexel Dance ensemble is the amount of variety it takes in its performance and dances. The combination of professional and student choreography adds a different dimension to the dances.
Certain pieces stand out from the rest, such as "Rhythmic Explorations" by junior entertainment and arts management major Kim Perno and sophomore business major Jessica Raspa. It combines dance techniques from tap dancing and hip-hop and really focuses on the rhythmic aspect of the title.
"They all start out doing hip hop movement at first," Perno explained about the idea of her piece. "Then there are the type of dancers that don't really want to do that style of dance, which is why the five of them break apart and come to the front and change into tap shoes. Those five dancers are brave, ambitious and want to do what they want to do and do their own thing."
The music was event composed and produced by Joel Collier, a member of the Drexel Music Industry Program's Composer's Club.
Other student choreographers experiment with different styles of dance and other thematic ideas. "Denouement," choreographed by Rebecca Green, a sophomore entertainment and arts major, showcases the dancers to the tune of Lady Gaga. The dance shows the dancers acting as hammy superstars until the piece changes abruptly to a passionate modern dance piece that really allows the dancers to show their stuff.
Justine Pamiloza, a senior nursing major, brings out a Bob Fosse vibe mixed with Moulin Rouge in her piece, "A Jazz Memento." During this time, ladders and chairs fill the stage, letting the dancers use these props to add to the performance as it ranges in different tempos and styles.
In addition to the student choreographers, there are guest choreographers that lend their skills to pieces in the performance. Meredith Rainey brings to the table an extremely interesting and enjoyable piece with "Seeds." Rainey has created dances for Pennsylvania Ballet, Brandywine Ballet, Ballet X, Philadanco and numerous other dance companies.
The dance program has taken leaps and bounds in the past few years. Miriam Giguere has taken the program and brought a new energy to it. The program is now about to enter its second year of having a dance major; students of the major are allowed to major in either dance education or dance therapy, which are practical applications of dance.
On top of the new major, there is even a new full time staff.
Olive Prince, assistant dance professor at Drexel, has helped bring a new view and energy to the program. One of the projects that is being highly regarded by the Philadelphia public is the outreach program, which includes sending student dancers to surrounding elementary schools to share dance with inner city kids.
"The dancers in the major are either tracking towards either a masters degree in education or a masters degree in dance movement therapy. So, the idea of working with people and establishing relationships is really important," Prince said. "The response has been tremendous. We sent out a mailing and within three days we were completely booked for the entire school year and we are already booked for most of next year."
The program is separated into two parts, focusing on an outreach program that has the touring ensemble attend different elementary schools, give a dance performance and talk with the kids about the art of dance. The next part is the residency program, which has Drexel dancers teach elementary students different styles of dance ranging from modern to hip-hop. This program's culmination will be featured in the Drexel Dance Ensemble's final performance.
"You see the students involved in it learn a lot about themselves," Giguere said on how the outreach program has affected the Drexel students.
"They go into these schools and learn a new reality about these schools of the inner Philadelphia school systems. They make individual contact, so they gain empathy for these students and understand how important it is to be part of this effort to improve the schools. "
The Drexel Dance Ensemble's "Intricacies" is being performed at the Mandell Theater May 29 and May 30 at 8 p.m.
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