Boston College Theatre Department Presents Rising UP: A Dance Showcase, 3/30 & 31

The Boston College Theatre Department continues the 30th anniversary season of the Robsham Theater Arts Center with Rising UP: A Dance Showcase. Under the artistic direction of faculty member Sun Ho Kim, this first-ever department-produced piece will feature choreography by Kim, with faculty members Robert Ver Eecke S.J. (Jesuit artist-in-residence and artistic director of the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble, BLDE), Kirsten McKinney and Margot Parsons. Performances will take place on Robsham’s Mainstage on March 30 and 31, 2012.

With a cast of more than 60 student dancers, Rising UP will present various forms of dance including jazz, modern, ballet and liturgical dance. Most pieces will be performed by students enrolled in Theatre Department dance courses, where they have prepared since the beginning of the semester. The BLDE, a pioneer for dance at Boston College for more than a quarter century, also will perform.

"There are so many different dance languages," says Kim. "We want to explore as many as possible, including ones not often seen on campus."

The program will include a guest performance by a student dance troupe, “Danza Fusión Universitaria” from Ibero-American Univeristy Puebla in Puebla, Mexico, which will be in residence at BC to participate in Holy Week events planned at St. Ignatius Church.

Rising Up is the latest development in an expansion of dance programming at BC in recent years. In addition to the opening of a Dance Studio on the University’s Brighton Campus, Sun Ho Kim joined the Theatre Department faculty as BC's first full-time dance professor in 2010. A professional dancer, he also is the founder and artistic director of a performance ensemble. With this dance showcase, organizers say, the Theatre Department joins the growing list of dance producers on campus.

"There's a longstanding tradition of dance in the Robsham Theater Arts Center and lots of terrific student dance organizations on campus," says Theatre Department Chair Scott Cummings, "but the Theatre Department itself has never produced a dance concert. We want to create more opportunities for student dancers.

"Dance is on the rise at BC," he adds, "and we want this showcase to reflect that."

The production’s artist-student collaboration also extends backstage. Joining Kim on the production team are Theatre Department Assistant Professor Jacqueline Dalley, who will serve as costume designer, BC senior Patrick Brazil, who will design lights, and professional sound designer David Wilson.

The production runs Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31, 2012. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theater in the Robsham Theater Arts Center. Tickets are $15, $10 for students, seniors, and BC faculty and staff. All tickets are available online at www.bc.edu/theatre, through the RTAC Box Office, or by calling 617?552?4002. For more information: www.bc.edu/theatre.

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