When one curtain closes, another one opens.
Seniors studying dance will perform in the senior dance concert for one last hurrah here at Ohio University. For some performing in the concert they know that this is not where it ends but where it begins.
“It’s a mix of emotions. I’m sad to be leaving here, it’s been such a wonderful time,” said Emma Rumberg, a senior studying dance. “It’s bittersweet. I’m really excited. I’m ready to graduate and I’m ready to move on to new things, but at the same time I’m really going to miss dancing and growing artistically with my fellow classmates.”
For others dancing in the concert it’s a lot to emotionally take in.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Lauren Slivosky, a senior dancer here at OU. “I’m trying to avoid that moment of thinking about it as much as possible, but now that we’re into tech rehearsals and lighting rehearsals for the seniors I’m upset that it’s not happening more. I’m loving what’s happening on stage and I wish that I had more shows to show it.”
This concert is the capstone for dance majors where each senior dancer is required to choreograph a solo work for themselves and a group work with two or more people.
“What sets our program apart from other dance programs is the amount of education that we get in terms of dance composition,” Rumberg said. “It’s more ran like a MSA program in terms of choreography, so more like at graduate level because of the attention that we give to it and the amount of time.”
Rumberg said that she is planning on moving to New York City and applying for administrative internships within the dance field. She said she would like to start auditioning for companies. This challenging concert process helps dance majors go into this field well-prepared and ready to take on the world.
“At OU they train us to be smart dancers and creative dancers,” Slivosky said. “We’re running the publicity, we’re running the crew work, we’re planning the show, we’re organizing, we’re choreographing, we’re doing everything that is involved with what goes into a show.”
For the professors that have been with the graduating seniors for most of their time here at OU, it’s a positive experience seeing the progress they’ve made and seeing the dancers go off into the world.
“I’m excited and elated because I’ve been apart of their growth and development for two years now as a member of the faculty,” said Nathan Andary, visiting assistant professor of dance. “This year they have been my students to kind of nurture and encourage their professionalism and their artistic vision before they graduate and go into the professional world.”
If you go:
What: Senior Dance Concert
When: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday,
2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater at Putnam Hall
Admission: Free for students,
$8 general admission
This story originally appeared in print under the headline, "Seniors display dancing prowess, look forward."
@annachristine38
ag836912@ohiou.edu
