The Bowdoin Orient

December 8, 2000
Volume CXXXII, Number 12

December Dance Show premieres in the Wish Theater

by JULIE THOMPSON - STAFF WRITER

   The closest many of us come to expressing ourselves with our bodies is shaking our collective boody to the sounds of the latest pop beat on any given Saturday night. For some talented students on the Bowdoin campus, however, this form of personal expression takes a role in daily life through classes offered by the department of theater and dance. In the immensely popular annual December Studio Show, dance students will have the chance to show off their moves to packed houses on Thursday and Friday nights. This year the show will make use of the newly-created Wish Theater, providing many opportunities for creative use of lighting and space and giving dancers unique challenges that come with performing in the round.
   The show's relocation to Wish will allow for a modified presentation of the dances, adapting it to the innovative space being used. June Vail, chair of the dance department, is excited to be making use of the new theater for the show: "This is our first opportunity to use the flexible space in the new Wish Theater, so we've chosen to present multiple, more intimate shows rather than a larger one in Pickard Theater."
   Of the show itself, Vail spoke of its place in campus life: "The December Studio Show has a long history at Bowdoin. It's an informal show in which dances and works in progress from classes, independent studies and co-curricular groups can be presented with a little background introduction from the department…There's a very wide spectrum of dance and music styles represented, from contemporary dance to tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, step, and zany dance/theater."
   The dances are a sampling of student work from a wide variety of ability levels as well as genres, giving the audience an idea of how dancers develop skills and learn movement. The show opens up with a dance by the members of Dance 312, entitled "Glass" and choreographed by Paul Sarvis of the dance department and the dancers. Set to ethereal music by American composer Lou Harrison, the dancers in "Glass" explore, as the program states, "a land of contrasts where time is subjective, and their physical dramas are alternately grand and subtle." A highlight of the 7 p.m. show comes next, with sophomore Julie Dawson's original work "Calling," a solo piece set to a solid beat by the group Dead Can Dance. In the 9 p.m. show, an interpretation of the wonderful song "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn is given through the medium of ballet.
   The diversity in dances can be seen in the a cappella number performed by the Tap Club, who truly take advantage of the space inside Wish through the use of every level of the theater. An upbeat piece for the choreography class, Making Dances uses folding chairs in every conceivable fashion in "Rusted Chairs," to the tune of the always popular "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root. The next dance, entitled "Rush" and choreographed by Gwyneth Jones and the dancers of Dance 212, is a high-energy and challenging number set to highly rhythmic music.
   The student group VAGUE is also making its mark at the Studio Show with its to-be-envied moves set to Jordan Knight's "Give It To You," and, in their first appearance, the Bowdoin step team Unity will take the stage. Finally, Dance 112 presents a spirited multimedia piece that will have the audience wanting to skip home wrapped in tablecloths…you'll have to get the details on that one yourself.
   In short, the December Studio Show is a many-dimensioned work of myriad styles and forms. Performers such as Aurelia Hall '02 are excited to be presenting the culmination of their studies and hard work: "Dancing in an experimental theater forces you to stretch your imagination; there are so many options in Wish! I especially love how the tap group takes advantage of the various levels of the theater.
   "I'm performing with VAGUE…This semester VAGUE has focused most of its attention on the mainstream Pop and R&B music/dance world of entertainment. The show as a whole is a highlight!" At last report tickets were sold out for the 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows this Thursday and Friday, but scalpers have been known to lurk around the theater. The Studio Show promises to be a great way to end the semester as well as a fun way to pick up some new moves for those Saturday nights.

Dancers rehearse for this weekend's show.

(Kate Maselli/ Bowdoin Orient)