From Nov. 6 to 7, the Department of Performing and Visual Arts will present its annual Dance Concert, a collection of seven dance pieces performed by students, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center.
Augusto Soledade and Elana Lanczi, associate professors in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, are choreographers for the concert. Soledade and Lanczi also coordinate guest and student choreographers and organize the audition and production of the show.
Soledade said each year, there are new choreographers and new work. A total of seven choreographers contributed to this year’s show.
“There is always something different every year,” said Soledade. “It’s always a fresh experience.”
This year, two guest artists, Lazaro Godoy and Carlota Pradera, are collaborating with each other. They own a dance company in Miami.
“That’s something new,” Lanczi said. “We also have two students doing solos and one student doing a group work.”
Lanczi said attendees are going to see work that they probably haven’t seen before.
“We have a really diverse program,” she said. “They’re going to see everything from hip-hop to modern to Afro-Brazilian to contemporary and experimental.”
Shanygne Bitna, junior communication studies and dance major, said her piece exemplifies the Brazilian culture.
“We’re at Carnival, the Brazilian festival, and, basically, there’s a star, a famous woman in Brazil, and we see her and we’re excited, and we’re just having fun and celebrating the Brazilian culture,” she said.
Alonzo Williams, junior dance major, is performing a rhythm and blues piece called “Ephesians 5: Single, But Looking.”
“This piece is essentially about my own personal life story,” Williams said. “In everyday life, there are temptations, [and the piece is about me] understanding that it’s better to live holy and pure and trusting that God will lead me to the right person.”
“In the movement itself, you will see the battle, but also the liberation,” he explained. “It’s better to battle those things rather fall victim to them; it’s better to be patient rather than rush it.”
Soledade said that it’s always been a priority to present to the university community the idea of how broad dance can really be.
“So when we look to invite choreographers to work with us, we’re not interested in presenting just one specific style; we want to show a huge range of possibilities, so that people can find something that they identify with,” he said. “I feel there is a piece for anyone.”
Lanczi said the show presents a variety of works performed by students who are incredible dancers.
“[The students are] really working so hard, so I think [attendees will] be excited to see their peers or colleagues on stage performing,” Lanczi said.
The audition for the Dance Concert, which was open to all NSU students, took place in September. Soledade said during the audition, the students were able to experience a little bit of each choreographer’s style. Then, the choreographers chose their cast.
“The choreographers were looking for dancers they felt could work with their different styles, but they were all very willing to work with those students interested in expanding their knowledge of dance,” said Soledade.
Williams said the concert is very different and interesting compared to other shows in the past.
“You can’t expect anything specific,” he said. “You’re going to be surprised by the movement, the music and the message behind every piece.”
Williams said Dance Concert is good for anyone looking for a relatable show.
“It’ll be an enjoyable show, if you’re looking to connect with the heart,” said Williams.
Bitna said the audience can expect the show to be something that’s lively, fun, energetic, vibrant and very cultural.
“I hope that attendees like and enjoy [the show] and try to understand the cultural background behind it because it’s not just us shaking and having fun; it’s an experience, it’s somebody’s culture.”
On Nov. 4, the same week of Dance Concert, the Department of Performing and Visual Arts will celebrate Dance Awareness Day, an annual event at NSU from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to provide free dance classes to anyone interested.
“We were trying to make the week of the concert a week of dance experience, so people can come and take classes, then they can go and watch the show; they’ll be immersed in the dance world for that week,” Soledade said.
Tickets are required and are $5 for NSU students and $10 for non-students. To purchase tickets, call 954-262-8179.
