Theatre & Dance at Wayne to Present 87th Annual Spring Dance Concert

Highlighting the works of world-class dance faculty, guest artists, and emerging choreographers, the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance Spring Dance Concert presents "Shifting Encounters" at the Bonstelle Theatre March 3 & 4. The concert features nine dynamic works, all of which have been adjudicated and chosen by faculty to grace the stage.

Meg Paul, esteemed faculty member and head of ballet at WSU, creates a powerful, passionate piece titled "seed," which offers an alternate world that explores the modification of individuals and societies through domestication, mutation, consumption, and greed. Engaging the interplay between light, architecture, and personal expression, faculty member Biba Bell, creates "Arch," which incorporates sculptural elements that mingle with the dancers. WSU's Dance Company One performs a new piece by New York City based choreographer Anna Sperber, whose immersive mood is evocative of a golden forest. WSU alumnus Aaron Smith returns to work with the department's first year students to create a dark, transporting, and mysterious atmosphere for the audience.

Members of WSU's student run company, Dance Workshop, seniors Ashlee Merritt and Kara Brody offer pieces developed within this context. Merritt's "thespacebetween," which will be adjudicated at the 2016 Regional American College Dance Association conference (ACDA), is an unending exploration; searching for new ways to fulfill something that cannot be fulfilled. Brody's "Wait for Weight" is a highly athletic piece that erupts with momentum partnering, and stamina. Collaborators Monica Brady-Barnard and Dana Hoerman dance their duet, "Delta," inspired by friendship and planes of support. Tap dancer Erika Ruch performs her subtle and contemplative solo, "Sozhino," which translates from the Portuguese to mean "alone," and speaks to inner struggle through an investigation of rhythm and timing.

Production Team: Meg Paul (Director), Biba Bell (Director), Ryan P. Jones (Stage Manager), Santino Craven (Assistant Stage Manager), Mary Copenhagen (Costume Designer), Patrick Field (Lighting Designer), Natalie Colony (?Master Electrician), J?ake Rydell (?Sound Designer),?Dale Dorlin?(Publicist),?Monica Brady-Barnard (Choreographer), K?ara Brody (?Choreographer)?, Scott Clark (?Choreographer)?, Dana Hoerman (Choreographer), Ashlee Merritt (Choreographer), Karen Judith Prall (Choreographer), Erika Ruch (Choreographer), Aaron Smith (Choreographer), Anna Sperber (Choreographer).

Performances will be held at the Bonstelle Theatre, located at 3424 Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit. Tickets range from $10-$20 and are available by calling (313) 577-2960, online at Bonstelle.com, or at the Hilberry Theatre box office.Wayne State University's Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance serves students as a nexus of performance, production, and research in the fields of dance, theatre, and performance studies. It provides a wide variety of degree programs that allow students the flexibility to study these disciplines broadly or to concentrate more specifically in performance, design, or management.

The department has been a force on the national dance scene since the early 1900s, when Wayne State University was one of the first educational institutions to incorporate dance into its curriculum, guided by founding director Ruth L. Murray. Today WSU students enjoy the dynamic atmosphere of a vibrant and diverse department that concentrates on performance, choreography, dance technology, and dance education. Notable alumni include Garth Fagan (T?he Lion King on Broadway) and Sonya Tayeh (Fox's S?o You Think You Can Dance)?. The Allesee Artist-in-Residence Program provides a wide range of national and international performance and choreographic opportunities for dance majors, enriched by the dynamic cultural diversity of the city of Detroit.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to over 26,000 students.