Simply presented with the natural honesty of modern dance, some new and old pieces of choreography unfold onstage in Markel Auditorium next week after a semester's work of three teachers and 14 students.
It is the second year the Hillsdale College resident Dance Company--the "Tower Dancers"--will produce a showcase performance. Since last year's single performance sold out, there will be a two-night run on Feb. 18 and 19.
"The audience was so huge," said Jovita Weibel, who teaches dance at Hillsdale and who established the company. "There seems to be a great interest at Hillsdale College."
Interest has spread through the campus, where modern dance is new and a modern dance company even newer.
First-time Hillsdale performers join those from last year, and guest choreographer Corinne Imberski, who dances and teaches in New Mexico, has arranged three pieces and will also perform a solo in this concert. For the students working with her, and for the audience watching her, the experience is something valuable and unique in Hillsdale's new dance scene.
"It is an amazing opportunity to dance with her," Weibel said. "I am thrilled about that."
Imberski joins Weibel herself and Gayle Parseghian, who also teaches dance at Hillsdale, in presenting five pieces.
Weibel is introducing a new work, "Spectrum," and through it she explores colors--three primary and three secondary colors. Bursting into a full kaleidoscope of color and movement, the dancers will wear costumes made by Brian Simmons of the theater department. These costumes are made of raw silk and dyed specially "to get the exact colors I wanted," Weibel said.
Parseghian sets out the voyage of the Pinta, Nina and Santa Maria to the new world through dance that is rooted in classical balletic technique. But like the others, she moves the piece through modern technique too.
The performances run Feb. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. Admission is free on a first come, first serve basis.