Beach
dancers to perform show
By Christine G. Adamo
On-line Forty-Niner
Every
dance has a life of its own, the meaning
of which is open to interpretation.
So says Doug Nielsen, director of “Contemporary
Dance 2003” and associate professor of dance
at Cal State Long Beach. The concert, an
annual showcase for the undergraduate choreography
at CSULB will open Thursday night.
“The point is to be moved,” Nielsen said,
which runs counter to generalized beliefs
that understanding what the choreographer
or dancers are trying to say is paramount.
Jennifer Felton, senior dance major and
one of eight student-choreographers whose
work will be featured, echoed Nielsen’s
sentiments.
“This is an excellent concert that is accessible
to all people,” Felton said.
Felton’s “Continued on D4” and Melissa Brown’s
“Upon the Cattle Chute,” will be highlighted
in the concert and then go on to represent
CSULB at the American College Dance Festival
southern region competition in Modesto May
7 through 10.
“Collaboration was a huge element of this
production,” Brown said. “The dancers are
really great; it’s nice to have them here
to choreograph with.”
Brown identified faculty as the driving
force that drew her to CSULB, and encouraged
her to audition for pieces like “Upon the
Cattle Chute.”
“Faculty is a huge draw for the department,”
Brown said, “along with huge studios and
costume shops. It’s nice to be able to create
a concept and realize it.”
Felton agreed, giving a nod to Brown for
her use of subtlety in telling the “beautiful
story” of an autistic woman who developed
humane cattle-herding practices that have
now become commonplace among cattle farmers.
“It’s amazing what you can do with gestures,”
Felton said.
In her own production, “Continued on D4,”
Felton hopes to give life to her interpretation
of personal advertisements and Internet
dating rituals.
“I get a kick out of these personal ads;
there are people who are really looking
for love there,” Felton said. “[My piece]
is a lot more theater than movement based.”
Nielsen said the faculty’s role was to help
evaluate, select and provide feedback on
the choreographers’ 10 works.
“You kind of push the boat in the water
and watch it sail,” the director said,
“Contemporary Dance 2003” will be performed
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and
Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Martha B. Knoebel
Dance Theater.
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