LANDING : Fall 2015 Senior Project Concert

Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Dance & Choreography presents LANDING: Fall 2015 Senior Project Concert, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 19, 20, 21, 2015 at 8:00 pm at the Grace Street Theater, 934 West Grace Street, Richmond, VA. Tickets are $15/$10 students available at www.showclix.com or by calling 804-828-2020.

Fall in with the VCU Dance and Choreography graduating class as they present their capstone choreographic projects in LANDING. Allow yourself to be carried through deserts and mountains, to be swept up by dreams, and to hear the calls of activism from the voices of these capable emerging artists, whose work engages with landscapes, relationships, cultural critique, and more after four years of intensive study in dance making and performance.

Suspended Juncture by Nicole Anderson shapes the stage with full bodied movement and partnerships that travel throughout the space. By creating a unique movement vocabulary of interdependency through collaboration with her dancers and driving them to complete laborious challenges, Anderson reveals unexpected and unconventional spatial and movement patterns.

Senses Six and Seven by Danielle Nicole Frye unveils the unforgiving truths behind negotiating within an ever-shifting, sensory dependent world. Through environmental explorations, this choreographic collaboration explores how we navigate by means of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste in everyday life. This piece seeks understand how we engage our senses to uncover the world in which we exist. 

Kathryn Holman's Vast Spires channels the erosion process that shapes Bryce Canyon, Utah. Melting snow, rushing floods, expanding ice, and falling rock inspire the movement language and dynamic range of the dance. Sculpted images in the work echo the canyon pillars—each naturally evoking an intricate design. Fulper explores depth and vastness of space through directing her dancers to discover and magnify movement embodying this colossal landmark.

Shanice Mason's Venu$ investigates the static, dominant cultural view of women in Western society, confronting sexism, body shaming, and sexualization of the female anatomy. Through fast-paced, visceral movement developed from a female perspective, performers work to dispel cultural limitations to reclaim and embrace the beauty of their identities.

Better Left by LaTeisha Melvin deploys compact, interweaving choreography to evoke the idea of struggle through different relationships portrayed by her nine dancers. She explores the physical and emotional effects of letting go or holding on to relationships both positive and negative. The unique sound and progressive movement pushes the audience's focus, shifting their attention with each step and note.

Fallacy* by Riley O'Rourke depicts an extensive self psychological study replicating an emotionally terrorizing journey that has stemmed from her own nightmare. Drawing from her creative writing and theatrical background, O'Rourke has created an unnerving, tiny world with five dancers in which she questions how to have an extrinsic focus on yourself. The pieces layers the metaphors of her subconscious with the words of her poetry, spoken by Erica Hughes.

Aria Roach’s Echoes explores the physical textures, psychological challenges, and emotional expanses evoked by the desert. Six dancers embody elements of sand, shells and sky as they unite on a journey from sunrise to sunset. Roach investigates how the desert, often regarded as wasteland, holds beauty in stillness; the silence asks us to listen to our echoing thoughts, which otherwise might be drowned out.

In Amid, Kara Robertson creates powerful, high energy movement that complements the musical score of Nico Muhly, performed by Eighth Blackbird. The work highlights the character traits of introverts in a stressed and deafening environment. Four dancers interact in a busy space, some thrive while others merely survive.

LANDING is the fourth event in VCU Dance’s 35th Anniversary Season. Keep up and tell us what you think at #VCUDANCE35. The presenting program of VCU Dance is committed to building and engaging dance audiences in the University and Richmond communities while providing opportunities for artists to present and create work.

Recognized by professional dancers and choreographers as “a place where things are happening,” Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Dance and Choreography offers a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere where students prepare for careers in dance.