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Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble Feb. 27-March 2, Eight World Premieres, International Choreographer

Feb. 21, 2013. The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance presents the Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble (SADE) in the state-of-the-art Valborg Theatre Wednesday, Feb. 27 to Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. 

Pictured in the 2012 Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble are, left to right, students Tessa Gossett, Cassandra Steffen, Caroline Daniel and Anna Huffman. (Photo by Greg Williams)
Pictured in the 2012 Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble are, left to right, students Tessa Gossett, Cassandra Steffen, Caroline Daniel and Anna Huffman. (Photo by Greg Williams)

Five student choreographers will showcase their work alongside pieces by faculty members Emily Daughtridge and Sherone Price and London-based choreographer Jason Piper.  All eight dances are world premieres.

Ticket prices start at $8 for students.  For more information, visit www.theatre.appstate.edu, or call the box office at 828-262-3063 or at the toll-free number 800-841-ARTS (2787).

Guest artist Jason Piper is currently director of studies in dance and drama at Kingston University, London. He was one of three nominees for Outstanding Male Artist in the United Kingdom, was featured in the role of Bane in the film “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” and appeared on stage in Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed reinterpretation of the ballet “Swan Lake.”  Piper created an ensemble piece titled “Our Own Devices” for Appalachian students while in residence in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Dance faculty members Emily Daughtridge and Sherone Price created two pieces for SADE.  Daughtridge will present “Yantra,” a dance performed by 10 female students.  Elements of design and flow in this choreographic work were inspired by meditation mandalas and coexisting chaos and harmony she observed during her recent travels in India. 

London-based choreographer and Appalachian State University guest artist Jason Piper created a new work titled “Our Own Devices” for the 2013 Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble, with performances Feb. 27 – March 2 in Valborg Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Kingston University, London)
London-based choreographer and Appalachian State University guest artist Jason Piper created a new work titled “Our Own Devices” for the 2013 Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble, with performances Feb. 27 – March 2 in Valborg Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Kingston University, London)

Price’s “Chapter 3” explores the inner makeup of people’s relationships.  “We have different chapters in our lives,” said Price. The piece represents the point where one might have to decide among a multitude of important choices. After recognizing the high demand for parts in his piece, Price reworked the traditional two-person duet to an ensemble of six.

Senior dance studies major Siobhan Campbell also employed new twists to an earlier work. She took a piece she choreographed last semester and recast it through an open audition.  Other choreographers also used open auditions, in which any student on campus could try out regardless of their major. Price emphasized that, “Anyone can audition to be a dancer in our shows. We just encourage them, if they can, to take some dance classes.” 

Tickets are available in person at the Valborg Theatre box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by phone at 800-841-ARTS (2787), and online at www.theatre.appstate.edu. Prices are $8 for students/children, $13 for faculty/staff and seniors, and $15 for adults.

Valborg Theatre is located on the north side of Chapell Wilson Hall on Howard Street.  The door faces the back of the Turchin Arts Center on King Street.  Parking is available on campus in faculty lots after 5 p.m. and in the College Street parking deck near Belk Library and Information Commons after 5:30 p.m. 

The Department of Theatre and Dance is housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its mission is to provide liberal arts educations for the B.S. degree in teaching theatre arts and the B.A. degrees in dance studies or theatre arts. The department also values the opportunity to offer coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Vital to the support of this mission is a dynamic co-curricular production program that provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community and the region. The departmental philosophy is to support the university’s liberal arts environment through a balanced and integrated emphasis on teaching, creative activity, scholarship and service.