The stage is closed for performing, but the 18 artists of Inspiritus Dance Company are showcasing their talents in a three-part film. The dance company was created by Elon University BFA senior dance majors as a part of their senior thesis project.
Inspiritus Dance Company is premiering its three-part dance film collection titled “To Be Continued” on April 10 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be streamed on YouTube, and viewers can access the link on the company’s website at 6:00 p.m. before the performance.
Inspired by their relationships with each other and their passion for dance that has brought them together, the members of Inspiritus Dance Company have been working on this project since August 2020. Their production will reflect what Inspiritus Dance Company takes pride in — finding “life, breath and soul” through a mix of contemporary style dance, film and acts of service to the community.
“I am most looking forward to sharing the stage with my best friends one last time,” said Samantha Berger, member of Inspiritus.
The members of the company wanted to showcase their bond as women, with care taken to respect their individuality with hopes to inspire others to find life, breath and soul.
Sarah DeSordi, a member of Inspiritus, said she feels this experience has brought her happiness in the creative environment where she thrives the most.
“Working through this collaborative creative process alongside my closest friends has been an experience I’ll cherish for a lifetime,” DeSordi said.
To follow coronavirus guidelines, Inspiritus Dance Company used Zoom to hold safe contemporary, jazz and conditioning practices, with each dance class taught by different members. The group still wants to make an impact on the community and invites people to join in on their production.
“I can’t wait to share these works with those who’ve supported us most to get here,” DeSordi said.
What to expect
The preparation for this weekend's performance has been different for the performers as a result of the pandemic, but the members were able to collaborate with videographers to show their creation. Kalie-Ann Nassoura, also a member of Inspiritus, looks forward to seeing their creation come to life through a virtual platform.
“This year obviously presented a variety of unique challenges we had to face throughout our creative process, but we didn't let that stop us from creating something that feels like a true reflection of our class,” Nassoura said.
The preparation for this event included the creation of choreography, collaboration with videographers for the films and costume and location selections.
In order to safely execute their virtual performance, the three-part collection is choreographed into small groups of solos, duets and trios. Each routine will be between two and three minutes long and filmed in different locations in Elon and the coast of North Carolina.
The mission of this performance is to capture each member's connection to the theme, and by doing so, the members decided to choose their location based upon where they feel most connected.