The houselights dim and all chatter quiets, indicating the start of Dance in Concert for the Utah Tech University Dance Program.
Welcomed by a spotlight on the mainstage of the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center, directors J.B. Shilcutt and Jennifer Weber stepped out April 17 to begin the night filled with dance. They introduced the concert and the ideas behind it, including the importance of performing arts.
There were six different pieces throughout the night, which were titled “root(ed) 2.025,” “gRadient,” “Beholder,” “neither lost nor found,” “Nostalgic Dreamscapes,” and “modUS operandI.”
Before each performance, the screen would lower, and a video from the choreographer would play. These videos would include clips of the rehearsals as the choreographer explained the meaning behind the dances.
Sara Gallo, dance program director and department chair of theatre, dance and digital film, choreographed one of the dances in the performance. Her piece was titled “Nostalgic Dreamscapes” and included a 14-minute contemporary modern dance with eight dancers to music composed by Beethoven. Gallo said her piece was inspired by the idea of loss.
“I’m interested in the differences of missing a person versus a place or an object,” Gallo said.
Additionally, Gallo said there is nothing she would want to change for her piece, but she would be interested in continuing to develop the piece in the future.
“I am satisfied with where the dance is currently, and I really appreciate my dancers,” Gallo said. “They have been very committed. I couldn’t have asked for more in them, and so in that sense, I wouldn’t change anything in terms of casting.”
Mia Chamberlain, a sophomore dance major from Fruit Heights, said her favorite piece to perform was the piece by Gallo.
“There is this movement that we do on a bench, and then that bench movement is referenced and modified throughout the rest of the dance,” Chamberlain said. “I would definitely say that’s my favorite part of the dance.”
For Finnian Helsten, a sophomore dance major from Salt Lake City, their favorite piece was choreographed by James Morrow. Helsten said it is hard to choose a favorite piece because all the pieces were so different.
“I feel that creating the dance with James and the other dancers in one day was a special experience, and I feel very connected to what we all made together,” Helsten said.
Helsten was also cast in every single piece of the show. They said it has been a challenging yet welcome challenge preparing for each of the dances.
“It’s been a challenge to be so busy, but I feel much stronger as a dancer and am excited to show everyone the end result of all the hard work I, as well as the other dancers in the show, have put into creating the pieces we will be performing,” Helsten said.
The second night of the concert will be April 18 at 7:30 p.m. for anyone interested in watching the concert.
“We have dances that are more contemporary modern, we have dances that are contemporary ballet, we have hip-hop, and urban dances as well as aerial,” Gallo said. “So, anyone going to see this concert, there should be a little something for everyone.”
