By Nora Gnabasik, Staff Writer
Ben Lanham and Melissa Buriak, dance performance juniors, perform a number during a March 1 rehearsal for the American Spirit Dance Company’s Spring Show.
Students’ dedication, punctuality and cooperation contributed to the production of The American Spirit Dance Company’s Spring Show.
Dancers will perform at 2 p.m. March 17 and 8 p.m. March 15 to 17 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $20.
Art is entertainment in America, and the audience should expect to be entertained, said Jo Rowan, director of The American Spirit Dance Company. Dancers will incorporate tap, jazz and musical theater numbers into their show.
“There is everything from the type of thing you would see on videos, vaudeville, the Broadway stage, cruise ships, tours throughout America or Europe, or anything that has to do with our entertainment field,” she said.
Dancers were put into different blocks in rehearsal, so they never danced the same style consecutively, Rowan said.
“We make sure if the dancers are doing ballet in one block then they are doing tap in the next to balance their educational experience,” she said. “They are expected to work like they are an equity dancer.”
Dance instructors and students have prepared since Christmas for their spring performance.
Darius Wright, music theater sophomore, said he will perform in his second dance show.
“There are more rehearsals and a lot more memorizing,” he said.
Even though dancers may be the only students performing, there are others involved in the production.
Kija McCain, dance management sophomore, said all the non-company dancers are operating the lighting, costumes and other technical aspects of the show.
McCain will assist in her first dance show.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it will be really rewarding.”
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