Cal State Fullerton's Dancers to Open Spring Dance Theatre, 5/5

The nationally acclaimed Spring Dance Theatre, coordinated by CSUF Dance Professor Gladys Kares, runs May 5-May 15, 2016 in the Little Theatre on Cal State Fullerton's campus. Spring Dance Theatre includes original choreography by students, faculty, and guest artists. CSUF dancers were recently featured at Washington DC's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Professor William F. Lett's piece, Scratching the Surface, is a jazz/rhythm tap piece choreographed to the music of composer Jimmy Giuffre and The Manhattan Transfer. Student choreographer Sara Armendariz's piece, Within the Lines, is inspired by the anonymous quote, "Silence is the most powerful scream." If You Sink is choreographed by guest artist Bryn Cohn to the music of Chopin. Contemporary piece Until You Surrender is choreographed by Jessica Vela and follows dancers on a journey of forgiveness. Faculty member Lisa D. Long uses the music of the Gotan Project in her piece XS, which explores human tendencies towards an overabundance of isolation or codependence within relationships.

Faculty member Alvin Rangel's contemporary piece, Bodies and Souls, pays tribute to those who have lost their lives migrating toward new lands in the attempt to find peace, freedom and justice. Samadhi is choreographed by student artist Shawnee Amara Williams and is inspired by the title's definition, a super-consciousness or a state of continual bliss or ecstasy. Rebeca Montecino uses the music of Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm to choreograph her contemporary modern piece,Will We? The show closes with At Last, choreographed by Dean of the College of the Arts, Dale A. Merrill to the music of Etta James.

Spring Dance Theatre plays at 8 pm on May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 and at 2 pm on May 8 and May 15. General admission tickets are $14 ($12 with advance Titan Discount purchase for students, seniors or with a CSUF ID). All tickets are $14 at the door. Tickets are available by calling (657) 278-3371, 11 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday and online.