OU'S CONTEMPORARY DANCE
OKLAHOMA OPENS FEB. 24th

Courtesy of University of Oklahoma School of Dance

Norman—University Theatre and the University of Oklahoma School of Dance present Contemporary Dance Oklahoma scheduled to open at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, 563 Elm Ave. Norman.  Additional performances are at 8 p.m. , Feb. 25, March 3, 4, and at 3 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5. This production is rated PG.

OU School of Dance faculty Austin Hartel and Roxanne Lyst have created a production of modern dance works that challenge the dancer’s creative and physical limits. From narrative to abstract and mood inspired choreography, Contemporary Dance Oklahoma brings modern dance to explosive life on stage at OU.

Lyst choreographed her first dance work for University Theatre entitled “#” (hashtag). Describing her new work, Lyst said, “# is a meta tag symbol used via Twitter and Facebook for social or political slogans. In Contemporary Dance Oklahoma, # is a work that explores how pop culture is quick to post slogans about global injustices but slow to engage in the process of abolishing those same injustices.”

Hartel describes Brodie’s Introspection, “The dancers represent two sides of a person’s mind as they wrestle with a decision between two choices and reach an ultimate conclusion.”

Hartel’s other dance works include Pictures On Exhibition, Tethered, and In The Garden.

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma comprises students from the School of Dance. They are Alma Cienski, Ashley Coffin, Hannah Dellenbeck, Infiniti Eaglin, Bailey Evans, Kessa Fehring, Meagan Feil, Tessa Gidish, Gianna Hagnell, Nacoleon Hillsman, Jamilynne Johnson, Alexandra Lane, Korinne Manjarres, Billi Marder, Sara Peana, Melynda Phillips, Bethany Raley, Irandy Reyes, Joi Rice, Julie Russel, Breanna Troutman, Manuel Valdes, Megan Watson, Claire Wilcutt and Nicole Young.

The production staff consists of Kalani Lewis, scenic designer; Lloyd Cracknell, Ciara Smith, Patricia Mason and Jenava Burguiere, costume designers; Sam Brown, lighting designer; Haley Sartin, stage manager; Clara Cravey Stanley, School of Dance associate director; Kasey Allee-Foreman, associate producer; and Mary Margaret Holt, producer.

OU’s program in dance was founded in 1963 by Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov, former principal dancers with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The department became the School of Dance in 1998 with Mary Margaret Holt as director. Undergraduate and graduate dance majors, along with general education students, total approximately 1000 students in dance classes per semester. The School of Dance’s state-of-the-art facility in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Art Center was completed in 2005.

For more information or to schedule an interview call the OU School of Dance office (405) 325-4051.

Advance purchase tickets for Contemporary Dance Oklahoma are $25 for adult; $20 for senior adult, OU employee and military; and $10 for student, plus handling fee. Tickets at the door are $35 for adult and $15 for student, cash or check only.  Tickets also may be purchased online at theatre.ou.edu, by calling (405) 325-4101 or visiting the OU Fine Arts Box Office in the Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St. For accommodations, please call the OU Fine Arts Box Office at (405) 325-4101.

Courtesy of O.U. School of Dance