Entertainment
The Battalion
Page 3 • Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Will dance for minor
'ance Minor Concert to allow students to hit the dancefloor, work toward degree
By Christina Teichman
THE BATTALION
wJStephanie Ford said her mother introduced her to what would
1 Tome an old friend before she was in kindergarten.
mother put me into my first dance class at the age of 4 ”
TWrd said. “1 have continue dancing because I think it is a wonder
ful way to express myself and learn.”
l?WFor many students, dancing means hanging out with friends, cel-
ebi iting a wedding or simply succumbing to their favorite Madonna
slug. For others, such as Ford, it is an art carefully learned in a sur
prising location - the classrooms of Texas A&M.
■ Dancing is not a new concept to College Station, seeing as how
the clubs and bars are full of students channeling their energy into
their favorite songs every weekend.
■ What is relatively new to Aggieland is the chance for students to
to mi ior in or get a secondary teaching certification in what many
f consider a hobby. The Dance Minor program, which allows stu-
det ts to bring such academics on the dance floor, was put into
action in correlation with the EmSu Dance Company, during the
W:«()2 fa n semester. Both programs were founded in connection
wi i A&M's Vision 2020, which supports the continuous involve-
im it of the arts at the University.
entp’lHFord. a sen j or theatre major, chose to minor in dance because of
he; love of the art.
■ “I love everything about the art of dancing; classes, performance,
rehearsal, production, choreography,” Ford said. “The more I study
and learn about dance, the more I love it.”
■ Lecturer Carisa Armstrong said though offering dance as a minor is
anew and unconventional step, the hopes for the program are high.
■ “The program has grown in numbers and strength in a short
aihount of time and we have large aspirations for the future,” said
Armstrong, the newest Dance Program faculty member.
■ The A&M Dance Minor Program will present its second annual
■nee Minor Concert this Saturday. The faculty and students will
co! iborate to perform many works for the concert. In conjunction
with the Dance Minor Program, this concert is being supported by
■ Department of Health and Kinesiology.
■ Annstrong said the program receives partial support with the
he) of grants made available by the Academy for the Visual and
Pe forming Arts. The Academy has been given the duty of improv
ing visual and perfonning arts at A & M.
■“The Dance Minor Program houses and supports a pre-profes-
slnal company comprised of Dance Minor students who audition
and are selected to represent the University throughout the country,”
■ Jjmstrong said. “Dance faculty creates their choreographic works
m Eoi
‘MusicaCs
i
'hat:
Texas A&M dance minor stu
dents and the EmSu Dance Co.
’here:
Rudder Auditorium
how much:
Admission is free
l
doors open:
May 1 at 7 p.m.
The EmSu Dance Co. (above)
The company will collaborate
on these students, allowing them an
opportunity to perform in numerous
venues.”
The Dance Minor Program will
also host guest artist Kathy Dunn
Hamrick during the performance.
Hamrick, who formed her own dance
company in Austin and traveled to
College Station to perform in the faculty showcase last month,
is currently working on a piece with the Dance Minor students
for the event.
“Kathy (Hamrick) taught master classes and gave lectures to the
students while in residence,” Armstrong said.
There are two ways dance students are able to participate in this
particular concert, Armstrong said. Dance minor students are per
mitted to present their own choreographed work in auditions with
their preferred chosen dancers. The dancers did not need to be
Dance Minor students. If the students did not submit an original
piece, or if their submitted work was not chosen, they could audi
tion to dance in a faculty’s presentation.
Melissa Alvarez, a senior kinesiology major, has been con
tributing her talent toward this concert and will be performing
during Saturday’s event.
“I am dancing in two pieces, a student-directed and one faculty-
directed piece,” Alvarez said. “1 want everyone to come out because
Photo Courtesy of • KATHY HAMRICK.COM
will join the Dance Minor Program participants for its May 1 performance,
with students throughout the program.
the dancing is nothing like you’ve ever seen before.”
Armstrong said the works that will be shown at the upcoming
concert include the piece “Sleepless,” choreographed by Hamrick,
which touches on the ideas and tribulations of insomnia. Also
being performed is “Baroque Ballet,” a ballet full of leaps and
jumps. All of these presentations will of course be accompanied
with the powerful music that was used as inspiration such as
Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” and David Lang’s “My Very Empty
Mouth,” she said.
Ford said she is excited to see what the Aggie dancers have in
store for the concert.
“I have not been involved with the concert this year and I am very
interested to see every piece, especially the guest artist piece by
Hamrick,” Ford said.
The Dance Minor students with the EmSu Company will intro
duce the Dance Minor Concert May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rudder
Auditorium. Admission is free , but donations will be accepted.
stani
BTU Invites You to Celebrate
Our 95th Anniversary
Friday,
April 30, 2004
Free Dinner and Activities
5:00-7:00 pm
•SSsJ*.
- -Jtk*
m 1
Roland C. Dansby Plant
8181 Mumford Road
A short drive from Bryan
Just west of 2818
Exciting prizes include • -il
• Michael Jordan, Noljin
Ryan, Roger Clemens, * *
John David Crow, Coach* ^
Fran and Dante Hall # '
autographed memorabilia i
• TAMU, Rockets and Astros
tickets
• Lake Bryan season passes^^
Free entertainnien^^^^M
includes
• Texas A&M Singing M
• Bryan High School Jazz p
Band "
• Free family activities and
carnival games
Dedication and tours begin at 1:00 pm
For more information visit
www.btutilities.com or call (979) 821-5715.
Driving Directions
7b drive to the Roland C. Dansby
Power Plant,
1. Go north on Hwy 6 toward Heame.
2. Exit at FM 2818.
3. Turn left onto FM 2818.
4. Follow FM 2818 to Mumford Road.
5. Turn right onto Mumford Road.
6. Arrive at 8181 Mumford Road.
pip
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