‘Community of Dance’ features modern movement, specifies no lead dancers

A production six months in the making, “The Community of Dance,” will be slightly different than the typical IU dance performance Friday and Saturday by combining influences from body science, culture, drama and music.

The Department of Kinesiology, Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Department of Theatre and Drama and the Jacobs School of Music are joining forces to put on the IU modern dance program’s annual concert.

The concert features choreography by guest choreographer Bill Evans and the world premiere of “Wind Studies,” a collaborative project between guest choreographer Liz Lerman, her dance company and the students in the modern dance program.

“Modern dance can convey things that can’t be said in any other way,” said Selene Carter, a visiting guest lecturer in the contemporary dance program.

Unlike most plays, musicals or ballets, the modern dance concert does not have specified leads or principles but instead, as in the name of the concert, a community.

“Modern dance is a democratic approach,” said Elizabeth Shea, coordinator of the IU Contemporary Dance Program in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. The intent of “The Community of Dance” is to exemplify issues in today’s society and to show how the art of dance can reach the community, Shea said.

“The focus of the concert is more about style, quality and making a statement,” said Kelsey Breece, a sophomore dance major performing in the concert.

Evans, choreographer of “Impressions of Willow Bay,” was an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology from 1986 to 1988 and now dances and choreographs dances around the world. People involved with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange not only create and perform dances, but also teach the art of dance and have worked closely this year with the students participating in the concert.

The concert is divided into eight pieces, each with its own theme and storyline, Shea said. For example, “Wind Studies” explores alternative energy sources such as air and wind, and it pays tribute to the history of uses for wind and the Wright brothers. Unlike most dances, this particular piece incorporates video, Shea said.

“We’re challenged by our own ideas of what we want to do,” said Gwendolyn Hamm, undergraduate coordinator for the kinesiology department. “Each piece has its own intent that is meaningful to the choreographer.”

This year marks the first time that the Jacobs School of Music String Academy, which includes both students and faculty, will play in the concert. However, with students’ busy schedules, live music can come at a cost.

“We really haven’t had the music to practice with,” said Amanda Harring, a senior dance major. “Because things change so often, it’s hard to set a specific count for our dances.”

The dancers also rehearse in a dance studio that is about three times larger than the stage in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre, creating a problem when bringing the rehearsed pieces to the stage, Harring said. However, the performers have been very flexible, doing whatever it takes to put this show together, she said.

“Seeing the students take ownership of the work that they have rehearsed and then letting it take a new life is the best part,” Carter said. “In a technological age, live bodies moving in time and space is not something to be forgotten.”