Wittenberg University

Wittenberg Department of Theatre and Dance
Presents Senior And Faculty Dance Concert

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — In its truest form, a dance performance should challenge the intellect and open the mind to new interpretations of both the music and the actions of the dancers. Those in attendance at this weekend’s Senior and Faculty Dance Concert titled Art {Subjects} figure to be challenged in just such a way.

The annual spring event, sponsored by Wittenberg’s Department of Theatre and Dance, will be led this year by senior dance minors Ryan Barksdale of Columbus, Ohio, Amy Humrichouser of Twinsburg, Ohio, Rachel Keim of Gibsonia, Pa., and Stefanie Holycross and Kacie Smith of Fort Wayne, Ind. It features a wide range of dance styles, with performances scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, April 29, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in Wittenberg’s Chakeres Memorial Theatre.

Admission is free, but all spectators will be asked to make a donation to the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Tickets will be available one hour before each show time.

The intriguing title of the concert is based on a book titled Art {Objects} by Jeannette Winterson. In that work, Winterson communicates a passion for art in all of its forms and discusses the reasons for many people choosing to disassociate themselves from it. Humrichouser said the students working on the concert took many of the ideas expressed in the book and conveyed slightly different messages.

“One thing that comes through strongly (in the book) is the concept of art not simply existing as a wall hanging to be looked at and adored just for its beauty,” Humrichouser said. “The seniors liked the idea of art as active, not passive. Though some of us have created works that are purely aesthetic or that seem mainstream, a few of the works really are intended to be provocative.

“We changed Winterson’s Art {Objects} to Art {Subjects} because we as dancers do not want to be viewed as just objects of the audience members who just expect that they are going to sit back, relax and be fed mindless entertainment. Objects are seen, are vulnerable, are subordinate, are taken advantage of. Subjects command attention to the content of their actions, they have control, and they are viewed attentively and with respect. This certainly is how we want people to come into this experience.”

The students, who will be joined by as many as 20 other dancers during the concert, have done most of the choreography and, per department requirements, they have organized all of the details for the spring concert. That means producing, raising money and directing the spring concert, in addition to handling such details as preparing costumes, advertising the event with flyers around campus, making props, making T-shirts, scheduling rehearsals and enlisting help with technical background set-up work.

Theatre students Jess Shirkey of Macomb, Mich., class of 2007; Meghan O’Brien of Fitchburg, Mass., class of 2007; Ricky Kugelberg of New Orleans, La., class of 2005; Cassandra Dunn of Sunbury, Ohio, class of 2008; Crystal Polk of Springfield, Ohio, class of 2005; and Dani Clifford of Louisville, Ky., class of 2006, have volunteered their time planning the lighting plot and preparing lighting design for each piece. Ligia Pinheiro and Shih-Ming Li Chang, both associate professors in the department of theatre and dance, and instructors Amiti Perry and Teena Custer, have helped with choreography and other technical aspects.

Humrichouser stressed, however, that this is a student-run event.

“Needless to say, everyone involved has put a lot of physical and mental labor into this project,” she said. “The five seniors have found it challenging in a number of ways.

“I’ve had to learn how to sew and solve a lot of technical problems by myself. It’s definitely been a growing experience, and it feels amazing to have accomplished so much by ourselves. We just hope that others will take a couple of hours next weekend to come and see what we’ve done.”

ALSO THIS WEEKEND: The Department of Music will present The Wittenberg Symphonic Band, under the direction of Jay Koupal, adjunct instructor of music, in its annual "Pops Concert" at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in Krieg Hall, Room 100, instead of on the traditional Benham-Pence Student Center Lawn due to anticipated rain. The public is invited, free of admission.