Department of Dance to present fall concert

Department of Dance students will perform a Fall Dance Concert Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 19-22, in the Belk Theater of the Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts. The five works on the program, choreographed by UNC Charlotte dance faculty, will reflect the rich diversity in contemporary dance with a wide range of styles.

The program will open with “Fury,” a ballet on pointe choreographed by Missy Coyle, a former member of American Ballet Theatre. “Cups of Knees and Elbows,” choreographed by new Assistant Professor of Dance Rachel Barker, is a comic piece that uses acrobatics and “pedestrian” movement to suggest a formal dinner party gone awry.

Two works on the program are rooted in cultural dances from different continents. “Latin Dance Fusion,” choreographed by Rodrigo Jimenez, moves from the romanticism of the Argentine tango into a sensual bachata from the Dominican Republic, ending with salsa partner work and its variation of footwork, “shines.”

A rhythmic tale of friendship, love and war “Imurafama Sono: I don’t love you anymore,” choreographed by Niché Faulkner, will be displayed visually through traditional West African rhythms of Soko and Dundunba.

A work by dance professor E.E. Balcos will demonstrate a collaboration between the Dance and Music departments. “Serendipitous Liaisons” is set to a piece of music that composition professor John Allemeier wrote for the UNC Charlotte Wind Ensemble. For the dance concert, the dancers will perform to a recording by the Wind Ensemble. But on Monday, Nov. 23, the dancers will repeat their performance of “Serendipitous Liaisons” for the Wind Ensemble concert, dancing to the music played live.

Performances of the Fall Dance Concert are at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19-21, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 22. Tickets are $18 for general public, $12 for UNC Charlotte faculty and staff, $10 for seniors and $8 for students and are available at the Robinson Hall Box Office or online.

Following the concert on Saturday, at 9:30 p.m., the Dance Department will host a Salsa Dance Party in Storrs Salon. Tickets are $10 per person or $5 with a Fall Dance Concert ticket stub.