For the first time, UCCS Theatre & Dance company is joined by Ormao Dance company in a mainstage show. The original dance performance “uncharted” will be showing at the Ent Center from April 3 – 6.
Ormao is a company of professional dancers who will be collaborating with UCCS students in the dance pieces. The show has been a year in planning, with auditions and rehearsals having begun in January. The performance features a total of 19 dancers, 11 of which are UCCS students.
Rosely Conz, producer of the performance and UCCS’ assistant professor of dance, said there will be three pieces that are about 20 minutes each. She calls the performance “an eclectic concert that is tied by using dance to explore uncharted ideas.”
The music was composed by Glen Whitehead, chair and professor of UCCS Music, Visual and Performing Arts, for each of the performances.
The themes of each piece include democracy, immigration and the ocean. Conz choreographed her dance piece using eggs to explore these ideas. “I was investigating the paradox between the chicken and the egg,” she said. “They are a metaphor for the fragility of democracy — and they are also funny.”
Conz was joined by co-director Janet Johnson from Ormao, whose piece is on immigration, and Chuck Wilt, also from Ormao, whose piece is ocean-themed. Wilt traveled for a week from San Fransico to help choreograph his piece about the ocean and unity.
According to UCCS’ Visual and Performing Arts center, Wilt’s piece draws influence from “the unifying nature of water and its role in memory, healing and rising sea levels,” and Johnson’s piece, “the last touch,” speaks on “deeply personal stories of immigrants and refugees, inviting audiences to engage in empathy and reflection.”
Conz said that students have impressed her throughout the process of preproduction and rehearsals with their work ethic. “I’m really proud of our students. It was a challenge at first, but they rose to the occasion to perform alongside professional dancers. They are present and delivering,” she said.
Production of the performance has been developed with the help of student crews in costume design and stage management.
The UCCS students performing are Sophia Agupugo, Marissa Baker, Weston Buhr, Jean Cook, Kaley Corinaldi, Elijah Gleason, Kori Heidelberg, Brooke Hernandez, Diana Ochoa Estrada, Kayla Suyatna and Addy Vitgenos.
“uncharted” opens on April 3 at 7:30 p.m., the other showings include April 4 at 7:30 p.m., April 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and closing night on April 6 at 4 p.m. Ticketing is through the Ent Center with performances taking place in the Dusty Loo Theater.
Editor’s Note: Weston Buhr is the business manager for The Scribe.
The Ent Center for the Arts. Photo by Logan Cole.