Orchesis shows off in mini-concert Oct. 19

Orchesis, the SUNY Fredonia student dance troupe, will present “Works in Progress,” its first mini-concert of the academic year, in a pair of concerts on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Marvel Theatre.

“Works in Progress” will feature 12 original dance pieces choreographed by Orchesis members. These selections will include such genres as modern, jazz, hip-hop and lyrical dance, among others. Forty-seven student-dancers will participate in the show.

This fall’s audition turnout was the highest in the history of Orchesis, as was the number of proposals it received from student choreographers. “We are very excited about the upcoming shows,” Orchesis Vice-president Jane Villella said, “They should prove to be our best yet.”

Tickets are on sale at the Central Ticket Office at SUNY Fredonia campus or by calling 716-673-3501.

Dance activity at SUNY Fredonia has reached new levels during the past year. Some highlights include:

• Orchesis hosted the critically acclaimed, New York City-based Troika Ranch Dance Theater for a weeklong residency in late January;
  
• The Department of Theatre and Dance presented “The Rite of Spring and Other Dances” in March;
  
• Michael Minery and Tapaholics, another New York City ensemble, participated in a residency at SUNY Fredonia in late September and performed to a sold-out Marvel Theatre audience on Saturday, Sept. 30;
  
• A dance minor now available for SUNY Fredonia students;
  
• The newly-formed Fredonia Dance Ensemble has been scheduled to perform with the Wind Ensemble on Nov. 15 and will present four major concerts from Thursday, March 8 to Sunday, March 11 at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House.