Dance residency to culminate with student performance of new work
Christopher Morgan (photo by Brianne Bland Photography)
Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance students will perform a new work by guest artist Christopher K. Morgan, executive director of Dance Place, Washington, D.C., at the Fredonia Dance Ensemble’s Fall Chamber Concert at the Merrins Dance Theatre in November.
Performances will be given on Friday, Nov. 5 and 12, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 13, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center and online. They can also be obtained by calling 716-673-3501.
The premiere of the 12-minute work, which features 10 dancers illuminated by hand-held lights throughout the performance, highlights Mr. Morgan’s residency at SUNY Fredonia.
“The piece asks the audience some hard questions of what is important that we give attention to, and what do we choose to ignore? The dancers control what the audience sees with their lights, giving the audience glimpses of movement and story to make a thought-provoking piece,” said Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Paula Peters.
Student performers include: Kory Randles, a junior, from Buffalo; Charles Fuller, senior, Buffalo; Grace Harvey, senior, Buffalo; Maya Daniel, junior, Amityville; Michael Aini, sophomore, Hornell; Mikayla Johnson, senior, Lakewood; Emma Voit, senior, Depew; Cire Young, sophomore, Buffalo; Iaisha Babb, sophomore, Rockaway Beach; and Ashley G. Anderson, sophomore, Huntington.
During his residency in the Dance program, Morgan taught two jazz movement classes, two choreography classes, one company class and gave a preview of the work for students across five departments. He also talked about working in the arts in the nation’s capital. President Joe Biden recently appointed Morgan to the National Council on the Arts.
Dance Place offers a year-round weekend dance performing series, dance classes for adults and study and internship programs for aspiring dancers.
Funding for the residency was provided by the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation.
