21 August 2018 • Arts Faculty Dance Concert

The 2018 Faculty Dance Concert will premiere five new choreographic works performed by 30 Hobart and William Smith dancers, one alumna and two members of the faculty. Performances will take place on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Deming Theatre of the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts.

The show will open with “Cycles Back Around” by Assistant Professor of Dance Kelly Johnson, where nine dancers will perform to sound design by technician Kelly Walker. The music includes text by Alan Watts and excerpts from Abstract Orchestra’s album Dilla, which pays homage to the late great innovator, jazz musician and hip hop producer J Dilla.

“‘Cycles Back Around’ contemplates the existence of a variety of rhythmic structures: some our environments provide, some we actively create ourselves and others that occur in our subconscious,” says Johnson in her artistic statement.

Johnson also premieres a solo, “tongue and groove” that reflects the symbolic use of language, nostalgia and gesture. The performance will be accompanied by Rochester musician Ryan Russell and four HWS students.

Professor of Dance Donna Davenport will premiere “Non-sequitur,” an ensemble piece with eight dancers, using both hip-hop and classical music. This year, Davenport’s signature focus on composition will “take four pairs of siblings through a poignant journey.”

Assistant Professor of Dance Caitlin Mahon premieres two new pieces for this year’s concert. “Conditions” will feature 19 dancers performing to music by 21 Pilots and Macklemore and the sounds of a thunder storm.

“Whether it is weather conditions such as a rain storm, mental conditions, societal conditions, political conditions, or a myriad of other conditions that impact our lives, these elements have the ability to impact humanity on a psychological and physical level,” says Mahon.

Mahon will also present “Kinetic Tessellations,” a duet with Kayla Malcolm ’17 created to an original sound score composed and performed by Matthew Beavers and Shawn Teal. This work is inspired by tessellations in M.C. Escher’s artwork as well as architecture— such as Rome’s Corinthian Order.

Tickets are $5 for general admission and free to students. Tickets are available at the door or at the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts Box Office from 3-5 p.m.