Mesa College is home to an exceptionally large dance department for students looking to pursue majors in that field. At the end of each semester those students have a chance to showcase their craft when the department fathers together and spectates the various types of dance. In the fall the dance concert is choreographed by faculty and performed by the students. The cool thing about the spring semester is that these pieces are choreographed by the students and performed by students as well.
The process for that involves students submitting proposals prior to the semester of the concert. In November, the students presented their proposals to a faculty panel. The students were able to talk a little about their piece, mentioning the intent of it. If they had the music they played it and they were also asked to a show some representative choreography. After that the panel would ask any questions they had. Once that was over they chose which pieces would move forward. A total of thirteen choreographers were chosen with several different styles of dance.
Before the new semester started, the choreographers had to meet with the faculty to discuss the procedure for auditioning. Auditions, which were held at the end of the first week of school, were six hours altogether split between two days. From then on, the choreographers selected the students they wanted and moved forward with the rehearsal process.
Mesa College freshman and dance student, Robert Cunningham, auditioned for the concert and made it into three pieces. An African-Jazz fusion piece, a Jazz-Fosse piece and a Modern piece. Robert’s love for dance started in high school where he danced in a few musicals. This is his second semester at Mesa so he has only taken a few dance classes here. This specific dance concert is actually his first time ever really auditioning for anything.
“My favorite part about this experience is learning all of the new styles of dance. I’ve only ever danced Fosse one other time and I’ve never danced any African style of dance so I’m really excited for that,” said Cunningham.
With only a week of rehearsals so far, there hasn’t been much time for learning the pieces or dealing with the entire experience. When asked if he would ever consider being a student choreographer he said, “I don’t know, maybe. I noticed that there weren’t any tap pieces and I have a lot of fun in tap so I might want to do that. I also would like to choreograph a piece inspired by Sonya Tayeh. She created her own style called ‘combat jazz’ and I think it’s really cool and it’s something that I would like to do.”
Department Chair, Jan Ellis is the mastermind behind everything dance. Ellis has taught at Mesa for 35 years. She started directing the program about 22 years ago and this is her 68th concert. When asked what her favorite type of dance was, she replied, “I tell my students this all the time. I’ve never walked by a dance class where I didn’t say ‘I wanna do that!’ I’m just so open to everything.”
She continued her statement by saying, “My favorite kind of dance in this type of situation is seeing their creative dreams come to fruition with their hard work. That’s my favorite kind. Successful and creative.”
As of now, the choreographers have ample time to prepare and perfect their pieces. The Mesa Dance Company welcomes you to come to the Student Choreographed Dance Concert which will be held at the Kroc Theatre on April 16th, 17th and 18th at 7:30pm
