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Show 6 Friday, February 26, 2010 ARTS www.dailyutahchronicle.corn NI Modern dance concert breaks from tradition I Sofia Strempek STAFF WRITER The Latin phrase "creatio ex nihilo," or creation out of nothing, finds a new expression as U students' agility and creativity are put to the test through a collaboration with the Salt Lake City-based dance company Movement Forum. The U Performing Dance Company Spring Concert invited guest artists Graham Brown and Danell Hathaway—both graduates from the U's modern dance department— to work with U dancers to create an improvised performance piece titled "The Surreal World." For 10 minutes, six dancers bravely step on stage with no choreography, hoping to create a structured dance in the moment. Without counts or rehearsed steps to rely on, the dancers live in the moment, creating with and adapting to each other and the music. Movement Forum questions the need for choreography, challenging dancers to think and move simultaneously and spontaneously. The company has performed in established performance venues like the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and for the American College Dance Festival Association, but at times rejects the typical stage space, performing in less traditional spaces like the Gallivan Center and the downtown Farmers Market. While the Spring Concert takes place in a traditional theater, the concert promises to present anything but a traditional performance. U sophomore Caitlin Warren, a dancer in "The Surreal World," said the process of learning how to improvise, and then doing so on stage has been challenging. "In rehearsals we worked together so that we know how every1110 one else moves and you learn how to interact with each person." This process, Warren said, provides a sense of safety onstage, and also allows the dancers to take risks. Other dances in this weekend's concert are more structured. Donna White, modern dance department chairwoman, choreographed "Polvere e Rovine," or Dust and Ruins, an atmospheric piece that entices the viewer into a Roman century gone by. Eric Handman's "Organism" breaks into the 21st century, exploring a futuristic reality with linear movement. "Night Moths in an Open Field," choreographed by Juan Carlos Claudio, is as odd as it is exciting—dancers expertly portray moths, personifying the pulsating, flitting creatures. Stephen Koester's "Storm Passing" harnesses the power within the human body displaying feats of strength and dynamism. After the performance's opening weekend, conversations overheard in the lobby often centered on the Movement Forum's improvised piece "The Surreal World." Some left the theater baffled, others seemed to be in awe of the nonstop activity created onstage. Either way, love it or hate it, one has to respect the dancers' gutsy ability to perform what essentially is, as Hathaway said, "your true self and dance body coming as one." 1 RICHARD PAYSON/The Daily Utah Chronicle The group DanceBrazil performs an original piece at the Salt Lake Main Library on Wednesday afternoon. The dancers will be performing tonight at Kingsbury Hall. Brazilian company features martial arts-inspired dance Shalina Baldwin STAFF WRITER After a five-year hiatus, DanceBrazil is returning to perform at the U as part of its 2010 U.S. tour. Founded in New York in 1977, the company's artistic director Jelon Vieira has recently moved the company back to Bahia, Brazil, to remain closer to the Brazilian culture. The company consists of 12 dancers, all Brazilian. "I look forward to the performance here at the U once again," Vieira said. "Five years ago, we performed here and See DANCEBRAZIL Page 7 DanceBrazil * A, s.strempek@chronicle.utah.edu 01, . 1.Ar Performing Dance Company Spring Concert Where: Kingsbury Hall Thursday—Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Marriott Center for Dance When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m. TICKETS For more information about DanceBrazil, visit www.dancebrazil. org $7 students, U of U faculty and staff and seniors $10 general admission Purchase at the Kingsbury Hall Performing Arts Ticket Offic 801-581-7100 or one hour prior to the performance at the Marriott Center for Dance Box Office |