University Dancers' 'Imagine' opens Friday

The University Dancers will present a diverse mix of dances during "Imagine," the group's 24th annual spring concert, which will be performed from Feb. 27 through March 1 in the Alice Jepson Theatre.

"Imagine" is a combined effort from faculty members, alumni, internationally known dancers and choreographers and the University Dancers themselves.

"It gives the audience variety," said Anne Van Gelder, Richmond's assistant director of dance. "They are hearing and seeing works by different people through their own lens."

This year, eighth blackbird, Richmond's ensemble-in-residence and 2008 Grammy Award winner, will be performing live at the concert.

Myra Daleng, the director of dance and director of the concert, has choreographed a piece called "Pins and Needles," which will be performed with music by eighth blackbird, overlaying a recording of a Dennis DeSantis piece of music. It will be a remix, Daleng said.

In addition, eighth blackbird will be performing the music for a piece Van Gelder has choreographed for the concert. Van Gelder collaborated with recent alumnus Chris Chandler on a piece he created while majoring in music at Richmond. Together, they turned his capstone project, a work called "The Resonance After," into a choreographed dance.

Chandler's piece will be performed by eighth blackbird and accompanied by a dance by the University Dancers.

"I'm glad he gets this opportunity to have his piece performed and revealed in a different way," Van Gelder said.

Senior Rachel Chikowski and junior Lauren Milam both choreographed their own pieces, which will be shown during "Imagine."

Chikowski's piece, "Untethered," is inspired by the idea of moving on from college and entering an unknown, daunting world.

"The piece explores the idea that someone is unleashed," Chikowski said. "They are subject to much confusion and manipulation by their surroundings."

The dance is a fusion of hip hop, modern and jazz, and adds to the eclectic nature of the concert.

"If you don't like something, sit still because it's going to change," Daleng said.

There should be something for everyone. If one particular choreographer doesn't speak to an audience member, the next one might, Van Gelder said.

Choreographers featured in the concert also include Robert Battle, the artistic director and choreographer for international Dance Company Battleworks; Jill Brammer-Ware, a dance faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University; Pam England, an adjunct faculty member at Richmond and founding member of Ground Zero dance company; Barbara Duffy, a well-known dancer and choreographer; and Jean-Paul Comelin, who has danced with the Paris Opera Ballet and numerous other companies internationally and locally.

Comelin, who currently lives in Germany, came to Richmond to teach technique classes for the University Dancers. He also taught them one of his choreographed pieces set to Mozart's "Requiem" for the concert.

"We're very lucky to have this caliber of choreographers working with us," Daleng said.

Daleng will tap dance with Michael Whitten to a new work choreographed by Duffy. It's set to Brazilian music with complicated rhythms. It's very fast and very fun, Daleng said.

In addition, Kim Urba, who graduated in 2006, returned to campus to choreograph a piece she called "5 x 7." Her message is very poignant, Van Gelder said. It represents the idea of family, and how no matter who we lose there will always be the pictures on the shelf with everyone together.

The entire troupe collaborated on the show's final piece, one they named "Tapping Into," which will tell a story of what it is like to tap into your psyche, into your dreams and into your heart. The dancers have complete artistic control over this piece, from the costumes to the music.

"It's a wonderful process, learning how to collaborate," Van Gelder said. "They're not afraid to deal with difficult subject matter or to have a message."

Audiences can expect no two pieces in the show to be alike, said sophomore Nicole Rahl.

"Some pieces are wild and fun, others are more peaceful and relaxing, and others still are more abstract," she said. "But each allows us dancers to show off our passion for dance through exceptional choreography."

"Hopefully our dancers present a challenging concert that causes audience members to think in a different way," Van Gelder said. "The dancers are really engaged in doing that, too. They've really invested themselves in the emotional message of the pieces."

The show will run at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. on March 1. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and Richmond employees and alumni, $10 for students and $6 for children.

Contact reporter Brittany Combs at brittany.combs@richmond.edu