Faculty and student choreographers turned to some of the greatest minds of the 20th century – from Albert Einstein to Alfred Hitchcock to Virginia Woolf – for inspiration for this year’s Winter Dance Concert.
“Minds of Interest” will be performed at the Yulman Theater 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, March 2-5, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinée.
“Where we could find inspiration for an entire evening of dance pieces? What subject could we develop and stage? What can stimulate the imagination?” said Miryam Moutillet, Dance Program director. “These were questions I asked last summer as I began to think about our concert.”
Unexpectedly, Moutillet found answers during an encounter with Rodin’s “The Thinker” at an exhibit at the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal. “I saw how the idea of ‘great minds’ had great possibilities,” she said.
The concert features 25 performers and showcases work by Moutillet as well as by artistic collaborator Charles Batson, professor of French and Francophone Studies, and instructors Laurie Cawley and Marcus Rogers.
Choreographers Jillian Callanan ’16, Allison Minchoff ’16, Avery Novich ’16, Laura Schad ’16 and Megan Wells ’18 were inspired by individuals as diverse as Coco Chanel, Stephen Hawking and the Three Stooges.
Costumes for the show were fashioned by Brittney Belz, and theatrical lighting is by Robert Bovard. Kewan Harrison ’16 created the film introduction. Guest musical director is Andy Iorio.
Tickets can be purchased at the Yulman Theater Box Office for $7 (with a Union ID) and $10 (general public). The box office is open Monday through Friday, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. For more information or reservations, call (518) 388-6545.