Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – New choreographic works created by the Stephen F. Austin State University dance faculty and guest artists Torens Johnson and Amy Wright will be featured in the program “Ex/Posed Em/Power” presented Feb. 16 through 18 in the Norton HPE Complex on the SFA campus.
“The Repertory Dance Company will take the audience on a rollercoaster ride of empowerment, strength and personal reflection, and their performances will expose viewers to pertinent topics within today’s society,” said Heather Samuelson, coordinator of the dance program and an assistant director within the SFA School of Theatre and Dance.
The Repertory Company consists of 14 talented dance majors and minors who will perform the works of each faculty member and each guest artist. In addition to the Repertory Dance Company, Dimensions Contemporary Ballet (DCB) will be featured in the concert. DCB consists of current SFA dance students, SFA dance alumni and Nacogdoches community dancers.
All works presented in this concert are original works of choreography created this year. Dances presented will include jazz, tap, contemporary modern, and elements of improvisation and acrobatics. This past fall, the Repertory Company had the opportunity to work with two guest artists, including Torens Johnson, a former Ailey II dancer, and Amy Wright, a professional tapper and director of dance at New Mexico State University.
“Our students learned choreography during two days of each artist’s residency,” Samuelson said. “These works will enchant and entertain the audience with technical skill, athleticism and lots of energy.”
A number of pieces in the concert depict and address topics in today’s society, according to Samuelson.
“Some exhibit political statements of empowerment and others address the importance of self-care and reflection,” she said. “The title was created based on a common theme presented throughout the concert and seen within the works. Although not all of the pieces have a deep and thought-provoking storyline, they all connect to each other through one common element – the posed power within the human body. The dance faculty wanted to ‘rip off the band aid’ and expose what actively fuels their art, sharing with the audience their thoughts, reticence and desires.”
Samuelson described members of the Repertory Dance Company as “so talented and fun, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication.”
“It has been wonderful working with the Repertory Dance Company on the choreography in this concert,” she said. “Several works from this concert will be presented in the upcoming American College Dance Association Conference (ACDA) this March. The Repertory Company will represent the dance program, the School of Theatre and Dance and Stephen F. Austin State University at this conference.”
“Ex/Posed Em/Power” performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 16 and 17, and at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Norton HPE Complex, Room 201.
General ticket prices are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors (62+); $8 for SFA faculty and staff; and $5 for non-SFA students. SFA students are admitted for free. To purchase tickets, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS, or visit boxoffice.sfasu.edu. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Cash or checks are accepted. Light refreshments will be sold after each performance to raise money and support study abroad for the theatre and dance students traveling to Scotland this summer.
For more information, contact Samuelson at samuelsoh@sfasu.edu or the School of Theatre and Dance at (936) 468-4003 or sfasu.edu/theatre-dance.