Next up in the School of Dance 2021/22 season lineup is Fall Dance II, which presents premier works by faculty members Melissa Bobick, Molly Heller, Alexandra Barbier, Satu Hummasti and Daniel Clifton, along with guest artist Ephrat Asherie.
“Their works are realized through and showcase dancers in the School of Dance at the University from both the Modern Dance Program and Ballet Program,” concert director and assistant professor, Daniel Clifton noted.
Fall Dance II historically provides a feast of dance varieties, highlighting the deeply diverse talent and professionalism of the School of Dance students, as well as an opportunity to work with an esteemed guest choreographer in the field. In the case of Fall Dance II, that guest artist is Ephrat Asherie, artistic director of Ephrat Asherie Dance, a dance company rooted in African American and Latinx street and social dances and based in New York City.
“Together, the choreographers and dancers have spent many hours in the studio creating dances that celebrate creativity, physicality, humanity, and the quest to discover more about ourselves, each other, and the world around us,” added Clifton.
From the Choreographers
HYPE — Alexandra Barbier
Juxtaposing fun, playfulness, and humor with poise, attitude, and confidence, this piece represents Alex’s childhood dream of being one of the “Big Six” 90s supermodels. She has created this work alongside deeper research into voguing and drag ball culture, and thanks the queer communities of color who established “Supermodel Realness” as an art form.
Precipice — Melissa Bobick
In her new work entitled, Precipice, Melissa Bobick returns to the classical ballet vernacular to create a contemporary ballet piece that explores the emotional nuance felt when it is time to set aside something familiar. Through dynamic interplay and the relationships established between the trio of dancers, she paints a picture of the active choice of stepping away, releasing, or shedding that which is known. Sometimes that is the only way we can see what comes next.
Spells — Molly Heller
Spells cycles through states of dedication, ongoingness, and "pouring your heart out." This trio attunes to collective and individual fervor while revealing the relationship between lighting and magic making, choreographer and performer, and audience and performance.
remember everything that spring can bring (2020 Ballads) — Satu Hummasti & Daniel Clifton2020
Ballads is based on specific memories from the first month of lockdown, gathered from all of the collaborators involved. Memories were crafted into short ballads composed by Daniel Clifton, which are sung by other dance artists in the School of Dance. “Ballads” is a series of solos, that function as memories, glimpses, photos, fragments, brief snapshots into the collective past of Spring 2020, when the world shut down and we were left in a surreal state of suspension.
out-side-in — Ephrat Asherie,Guest Artist
The pandemic was marked by immense moments of loss, reckoning, self-reflection, introspection, and mountains of other emotions, actions and reactions. How we see ourselves, see ourselves in each other, care for each other and thrive together became precious questions for many. This piece reflects on our hopes of moving, uniting, inspiring, breathing and making art together.
The Details
Fall Dance 2 runs for two weeks.
Showtimes are:
Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
To purchase tickets for the in-person performance, visit tickets.utah.edu. Free for University of Utah students with a valid UCard through the Arts Pass program.
Patrons can also stream the performance live for free.
For more information on the School of Dance or its concerts, please visit: dance.utah.edu.