The only sounds in the theater were the squeak of bare feet on rubber flooring and deep breathing as dancers auditioned for the School of Dance Spring Concert, which begins tonight.
Stephanie Gaines, a junior dance major, auditioned on May 2 to perform in junior Julie Van Zant's piece Residual Effect
but she also choreographed her own. After she danced, Gaines watched, nearly motionless, as five dancers performed her piece On All Sides.
A few days later, Gaines found out that the nine and a half hours a week she spent rehearsing since the beginning of the quarter had not been in vain. Both pieces made the concert.
The concert, which runs at 8 p.m. today, tomorrow, and next Thursday and Friday, also includes choreography by School of Dance faculty and visiting artist Jessica Fox, said John Bohuslawsky, School of Dance technical director and concert coordinator. Students choreographed seven of the pieces.
Gaines began choreographing On All Sides the same week she began rehearsals with her dancers, and began by introducing a few phrases, adjusting them each time based on the dancers, she said.
I like to come and have a phrase and then be able to manipulate it on them and change it Gaines said.
A song from the movie Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence inspired the movements for her piece, but the dance is set to different music, because students are not allowed to use movie soundtracks, Gaines said.
They kind of have already a story to tell she said. It's already made for something else.
Some nights, after a long day of class and rehearsal, Gaines got home after 10 p.m. and fell asleep listening to her iPod, envisioning movements for her dance, she said.
Sometimes I wake myself up at night G? dancing in my bed
she said. That happened a lot when I was making this dance.
Once the piece was completely choreographed, Gaines focused on the subtle movements of the dancers that can detract from the piece's mood, she said, adding that her biggest focus was the energy level.
I just want to keep pushing and pushing them to find more ways to find sparks in the movement for themselves
she said. Focus and intent behind the movement is important for every dance.
Facial expressions were integral to the mood of the piece, Gaines said. When Gaines and her partner began rehearsing for Van Zant's Residual Effect
their eye contact changed the piece's intent, she said.
The piece, which was inspired by audio feedback from electric guitars, casts the dancers as sounds instead of people, Van Zant said. They are not meant to connect on an emotional or personal level, she said.
It's not about how they relate to each other or see each other as people
Van Zant said.
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