Dancers will twirl onto the stage during the 38th-annual spring dance performance on Friday and Saturday nights—this time adding a few new twists.
"Openings" is an hour-long dance performed by students in repertory dance classes 112, 212, and 312. It is choreographed by Gwyneth Jones and Paul Sarvis, both senior lecturers in dance performance.
The performance explores new territory by using the space of Pickard Theater in new ways and by asking the audience to engage with the performers.
Sarvis explained that historically, most dance shows at Bowdoin have been in a showcase format where repertory courses had a venue for showing their work at the end of a semester. Student dance groups had the chance to perform as well.
Last year, the dance department decided to break out of this mold and try something new; three classes were brought together and centered their dances around sculpture pieces by Wade Kavanaugh '01.
Sarvis noted the multitude of benefits of the new take for the dancers involved.
"A show like this creates a certain esprit de corps and helps individuals foster an identity as dancers," he said. "Also, it gives participants a fuller picture of the creative process."
"The thing to remember is that these are courses first," he added. "This presents us with the imperative to give performers a certain amount of experience. As the choreographer, I have to be mindful of the audience and craft a show that is interesting, but I have to be mindful of the dancers too, and ensure that they have fulfilling experiences as performers. Overall, it needs to be a thoughtful and well-crafted evening of dance."
A major aspect of this year's dance show is the set design by Victor Becker. Becker's previous work at Bowdoin includes the design for "Phaedra," "Oedipus," and "An Enemy of the People," along with many other sets for shows both nationally and internationally.
"The set really opens up the space in the theater," said Sarvis. "Hopefully it makes the audience aware of the plurality of the space being a frame for the performance, but also a room shared with the performers."
He said that the stage protrudes into the audience and that there are a number of large white walls that progressively fly out, revealing large white fabric panels, suggesting that the solidity of walls and space are gradually breaking up.
The soundtrack to the dance is diverse, ranging from a small jazz ensemble to new string quartet and incorporating hints of Motown and the Beatles.
Sarvis wanted the "moments of high contrast in the dance" to be mimicked in the music. "The chosen music varies in tempo, feel, and instrumentation," he said.
"I stayed away from music with lyrics and music that is solely entertaining," he explained. "I wanted to work with sound in such a way that it supported, but not dominated, the dancers."
The songs, while diverse, share some common aspects.
"I chose things that seemed part of the same universe. For example, there is a reoccurring breathy flute, a steel guitar, a mandolin that becomes a motif. I tried to find original music from contemporary composers as well as some jazz and classical sources," Sarvis said.
The spring dance show will be performed today and tomorrow at 8:00 p.m in Pickard Theater. Tickets are available at the Smith Union info desk or at the door, but due to the nature of the performance, Pickard's seating will be reduced from 600 seats to 350.