West Chester University Department of Theatre and Dance Presents
PROGRESSIONS: A DANCE CONCERT
West Chester, PA - West Chester University Department of Theatre and Dance, in cooperation
with The College of Arts and Humanities and the University Dance Company, presents
PROGRESSIONS: A DANCE CONCERT. The Spring concert takes place on April 11, 12, and
13 at 7:30 p.m., and April 13 at 2 p.m., and is presented in the Madeleine Wing Adler
Theatre in the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High St., West
Chester. Gretchen Studlien-Webb directs. Tickets range from $13 – 16 and can be purchased
at www.wcupatix.com.
Director Gretchen Studlien-Webb says, “The WCU dance program currently has a lot of student interest in choreography. We are showcasing that talent in this spring concert, PROGRESSIONS, with 12 student choreographers and 2 faculty pieces.”
The program’s highly creative choreography features a variety of styles including contemporary, tap, multi-media, as well as a deep dive into the jazz genre with Afro-jazz, theatrical jazz and a “heels” piece. In all, about 70 students are involved as dancers, choreographers, assistant designers or stage crew.
Senior Hannah Boland choreographs both desensitized, a commentary on the societal effects of technology, and Midtown Jive, inspired by the musical theatre production pieces of old Hollywood. desensitized was chosen by WCU dance faculty to represent WCU at the American College Dance Association Mid-Atlantic South regional conference this month, where it received feedback from dance professionals. The resulting work will premiere at this concert.
Junior Kourtney Kukowski’s Between Dusk and Dawn offers a glimpse of a gathering during the deepest hours of the night.
“It’s ominous, intricate and filled with anticipation,” says Kukowski. “You won’t want to look away.”
The two faculty pieces are choregraphed by Associate Professors, Liz Staruch and Maria
Urrutia.
About West Chester University’s Department of Theatre & Dance
The Department of Theatre and Dance at West Chester University, an accredited institution of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, prepares students for the professional and the academic worlds of Theatre and Dance, while raising student awareness of civility, diversity, creativity, problem solving and social responsibility. The department offers a BA Theatre degree program with elective concentrations in Musical Theatre, Performance, and Design and Production, in addition to a dance minor and theatre minor.
About West Chester University
Enrolling more than 17,000 students, West Chester University is the largest member of the 14-institution Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, the University is a comprehensive public institution, offering a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, Philadelphia, and online. Six colleges and two schools comprise the University: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School.