STUDENTS' "ODYSSEY OF DANCE" TO OFFER VARIETY PLUS LIVE MUSIC BY BURNT TATERS
Jan. 24, 2001
"Odyssey of Dance," the 16th annual spring concert of the University of Richmond's University Dancers, will offer a mix of jazz, tap and modern dance at the Modlin Center for the Arts March 1-4.
The program of the 20-member student company will feature traditional choreography as well as premieres by alumni and students themselves, set to both recorded and live accompaniment.
"The program is diverse and exciting, and it offers something appealing to every artistic taste," says Myra Steinberg Daleng, the university's director of dance.
Performances will be in Alice Jepson Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, which cost $8 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, are available from the Modlin Center Box Office at 289-8980 beginning Feb. 1.
The local four-member band "Burnt Taters" will accompany four of the dances. Two numbers--"Just One Night" and "Rumors"--were composed by band members. Described as "contemporary folk rock and Americana from the heart of Virginia," Burnt Taters' music is a mix bearing traces of The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and others.
Burnt Taters also will play "In Dreams," a solo choreographed by Daleng for senior Holly Nash, and "The Thrill is Gone," a blues duet to be performed by assistant director of dance Anne Norman Van Gelder with guest dancer Norvell Robinson of the Richmond Ballet.
Daleng choreographed three of the compositions and will perform two jazz solos, a premiere choreographed by Billy Siegenfeld, artistic director of The Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and a piece choreographed by Arthur Purslow set to Peggy Lee's "Fever."
Two alumnae who choreographed premieres for last year's performance have again created premieres for "Odyssey." Asha Prasad Goodner has choreographed a trio to Janis Joplin's version of "Summertime," and Lynley Brokaw Ritchie, who is now director of the dance program at the Jewish Community Center, has developed a modern quartet.
Students who have choreographed individual premieres for the program are junior Gretchen Wagner (a tap trio), sophomore Jodie Applegate (a jazz piece) and junior Michelle Fragale (a modern piece titled "Footprints of a Friend" set to music by Elton John). Also, the company collaboratively choreographed the closing piece for all 20 dancers titled "Canned Heat."
In addition to choreographing and performing in "Odyssey," Richmond students also make up the technical staff. Stevie Ford will stage-manage, and Mike Jarrett will design lights for three of the pieces.
Reed West, technical director of the theatre and dance department, is creating the set, light design and special effects for "Odyssey." Leslie Winn and Ivy Dale Austin of The Costume Shop are designing the costumes.