Members of the 2012 Elon Dance Company and faculty members transformed their bodies and the stage of Black Box Theatre through original choreography. Dancers, choreographers and technicians came together to create an innovative eight-piece performance Nov. 10-12.
Four faculty members and four students choreographed the pieces, which differed in mood and movement quality.
"The choreographers and dancers had five weeks to build the choreographic concepts, rehearse and refine their designs before entering the theater," said Cherie Bower, director and choreographer of this year's "Dancing in the Black Box."
Those involved in the show only had four days before the concert to collaborate and finalize what they had been working on, according to Bower.
"The choreographic process is a fast one, as are the directing, staging and lighting design processes once in the theater," she said. "Open communication, focus, collaboration and attention to details by all involved have been important factors leading to the concert's success."
The Black Box Theatre's seating arrangement had to be shifted to accommodate fire codes and to allow the greatest vantage point for the audience.
"The main challenge for this semester's concert has been adjusting to a different seating and stage arrangement," Bower said. "The option that suited the dance concert's needs placed the stage to the side of the tech booth."
Each piece was five to 10 minutes in length and explored an overarching theme or concept.
Jane Wellford, professor of performing arts, choreographed "There is a Time" for the concert.
"The choreographic inspiration from my work came mainly from the text of my piece: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8," Wellford said. "The piece was my artistic response to the many world events occurring right now that are both extreme highs and lows."
Wellford's piece included extensive traveling and partner work, and the movement was a direct reaction to the spoken text and musical accompaniment. The Black Box setting was a big part of the piece's success, according to Wellford.
"It is an intimate setting for both dancers and the audience to give and receive dance in an up-close, personal way," she said. "The material I had to offer this fall was very personal and this type of space was necessary for the success of the work."
Each piece was an artistic exploration that reflected the choreographer's thoughts, emotions or feelings toward a particular subject. While some pieces, such as sophomore Abby Williams' "Short Circuit," were whimsical and quirky, others were more subdued, such as "Retrospect" by sophomore Aislinn Koch and the duet "Words and Deeds" by adjunct professor Jen Guy Metcalf.
"These works offer insight into our thoughts and inquiries of self, connections with others and how we perceive our art and world in a given period of time," Bower said. "They are, in a way, journals in motion placed in a staged setting."
Although "Dancing in the Black Box" is an annual concert performed every fall semester, the tone and mood of the concert differs each year.
"What remains consistent from year to year is the continued development of quality in the crafting and design of both student and faculty works, as well as in the performance presentations," Bower said.