One last dance
Graduating seniors showcased their pieces in annual Godwin dance show
Posted on February 18, 2008
Dancers took the stage Friday and Saturday night for the senior program, “True Life: I’m a JMU Dance Major.” The variation in the pieces left the audience enthralled by the outstanding choreography of the senior dance majors.
Each of the modern dance pieces were choreographed by seniors and were performed by them as well as a few other dance majors.
The show began with the piece, “Another Layer Left Behind,” which was choreographed and performed by seniors Meghan Ballard, Jillian Boelte and Ashley Knight. It featured the music “Limelight.” The stage lit up to show three figures covered in red rags. As they began to perform, the dancers showed off thei style and flexibility.
The next piece, “…And Then There Were NONE”, choreographed by Jennifer Potosnak, showed a more light-hearted side to the program. Featuring the music “Xanax,” four dancers in brightly colored clothing centered the stage in a circle. Throughout the performance, the dancers interacted to show a theme of connectedness.
The third piece, “Something In the Way I Move,” was choreographed and performed by Knight and featured the country-style music, “Copper Line.” The solo dancer represented this type of music with her light, natural-colored clothing and flowing movements.
Allie Larson and Lauren Matyisin choreographed the last piece before intermission, “Ode to Cynthia.” This piece, featuring the music “Music Box” and “Secret Love,” allowed for a type of comical relief to the show. This piece starred four dancers in bright clothing and fluffy skirts. With cardboard boxes and bubbles, the performance showed child-like fun and creativity.
As the first half concluded, the audience seemed pleased with the performances so far.
Sophomore Mary Sheehan, who attended the performance, said she liked “Ode to Cynthia” a lot because it was “comical and well put together.” She described the first half of the program as being “modern-based and very artistic.”
Freshman Emily Wynn said she thought the performances were creative so far, and she liked “…And Then There Were NONE” as well as “Ode to Cynthia” because “a lot of modern isn’t happy, so it was nice to see it upbeat.”
The second half opened up with “As You See Yourself” to the music “Rage” choreographed by Sarah Birgfeld. The performance included a mirror-like prop located between the two girls. This dramatic piece showed rhythm between the two performers.
The next piece, “Insidious Behavior,” was choreographed by Jasmine Smith and featured the music “Technopop.” This piece was futuristic and modern in movement and costumes. The three performers, including the only male performer of the night, showed extreme flexibility and unique dance styles. The piece left several members of the audience commenting on the choreography and performance.
The final piece, “Working Without a Net,” was choreographed by Kate Yow in collaboration with Sarah Burke and featured the music “Mirador.” This dramatic duet showed a modern twist on ballet and featured a tight-rope type of dramatization throughout the piece.
Sheehan described the second half as creative and said she personally enjoyed the performance, “As You See Yourself.”
The program ended with a Senior Improv featuring a video sharing the seniors’ experience at JMU, favorite moments and their appreciation to those that have helped them along the way. It added a light touch and a good ending for the senior show.
