One Ohio University organization will take the stage this week to celebrate black dance forms and culture.
The Athens Black Contemporary Dancers will perform two shows for their winter dance concert. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday in Putnam Hall’s Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater.
The organization prepared 14 choreographed pieces for this week’s show in collaboration with faculty and staff from the School of Dance. Students and fans alike can expect to enjoy a variety of styles being showcased, from contemporary dance to upbeat jazz and hip-hop pieces.
“It’s going to be a good show with very high energy,” said Lauren McMichael, a senior studying dance and president of ABCD.
The group, founded in 2005, is made up of about 30 performers who have prepared since Fall Quarter for these performances. Group members worked together to develop each piece of this week’s shows.
“We are really open to a lot of ideas,” said Irene Davey, a sophomore studying dance and a member of ABCD.
The show will feature a wide assortment of music, ranging from instrumental to popular hip-hop songs.
Dance professor Travis Gatling choreographed a piece for the upcoming shows titled “Claim my Name.” The piece is set to the contemporary version of “Four Women,” originally by Nina Simone and sung by R&B artists Jill Scott, Ledisi, Marsha Ambrosius and Kelly Price. This piece tells a story about black women and was also performed at Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day brunch.
“The work is more narrative and deals with four very distinct and complex portrayals of black women,” Gatling said.
ABCD can be spotted around campus performing at a variety of university events during the year. The group regularly performs at events such as the Cultural Connections Variety Show and NAACP award events.
“For a student organization, we do a lot of performing,” McMichael said. “We enjoy it.”
Last year, the organization traveled to OU’s Lancaster campus to perform.
In response to the exposure it receives around Athens and on OU’s campus, the organization has given out Biggest Fan awards at its spring shows.
ABCD members said they plan to give their fans the show they’ve been waiting for.
“We love that this campus loves us,” McMichael said.
BOB: Admission $3 for students, $5 for non-students
hm156809@ohiou.edu
