Marking the 49th year of academic dance performances at SUNY Geneseo, the college’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present the Geneseo Dance Ensemble in its annual spring dance concert, “49Live: Leaping Boundaries,” on Feb. 23-26 in the Alice Austin Theatre.
The Feb. 23-25 performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Student Association Ticket Office or online.
In a promise to stage diverse, dynamic and original dance works, all of the new works are composed by Geneseo dance studies faculty members and guest choreographers. The pieces will feature an eclectic range of themes and movements styles.
“49Live: Leaping Boundaries” is artistically directed and produced by Professor of Dance Studies and Ensemble Artistic Director Jonette Lancos. Lancos will present “Grande Tarantelle” to the music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The ensemble ballet is based on the Tarantella, which is a popular dance of the southern wine region of Italy, where the workers would stomp grapes with their feet while dancing in a large wooden vat quickly to make wine—all the while trying to avoid the sting of the tarantula spider.
The program will also feature guest artist Molly Christie González in “Candela,” as the ensemble highlights the Cuban social dance Casino de Rueda. Casino de Rueda combines Cuban dancers with English country dancing—through partnering, the circle formation, changing of partners and calling out of steps—and with the West African movements of bent knees, rhythmic footwork, musical sensibility and body isolations.
Assistant Professor of Dance Studies Mark Broomfield ’94—who assists Lancos in directing with senior student assistants Laura Dolan, Sophia Garber and Teagan Plimpton—creates the need for spiritual connection in his duet “Awakenings.” The duet unites Julius Drake’s “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” with Ruby Philogene’s “Walk With Me.”
Adjunct Instructor of Dance Studies Deborah Scodese French ’85 produced “Aqueous” as a modern dance to personify the strength, serenity and rhythm of the ocean. “Aqueous” will juxtapose the opening dance “Fiesta,” which energizes the audience in its Latin style dancing.
Adjunct Faculty Member Jody DeLoria will present “Who am I?” and “R1E2V3O4L4V3E2S1.” Both works examine counterpoint and repetition through the very same permutational formula. In addition, Adjunct Faculty Member Jenna Del Monte’s “Wilted A’Rose” vulnerably analyzes the impact a profound loss has on memories.
Senior Adam Brown stage manages “49Live: Leaping Boundaries.” Mentoring the student lighting designers are Johnnie Ferrell, associate professor of theatre and dance and technical director, and Steven Stubblefield, associate professor and chair of the Theatre and Dance Department. In addition, theatre faculty member Bonita Stubblefield is designing and coordinating the costumes. Joanna Walters ’13 designed the posters with photography support from Keith Walters ’11.
Generous donations through The Geneseo Foundation support “49Live: Leaping Boundaries.”
News release written by College Communications intern Alexandra Ciarcia.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
Office of Communications & Marketing
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu