The Gustavus Department of Theatre and Dance was pleased to present the innovative and eclectic Choreographers’ Gallery titled, Pure Movement Plus. The dance concert, directed by Melissa Rolnick, featured the work of eight talented, student choreographers and faculty member, Jill Patterson. Performances were presented in the Anderson Theatre on November 21, 22, and 23 at 8:00 p.m. and November 24 at 2:00p.m. All performances were sold out.
Pure Movement Plus presented the choreography of dedicated dance students whose work was specifically created for this main stage production. The selected student choreographers included juniors, Maggie Arndt, and Jordan Bergman, and seniors, Johnny Bates, Kelsey Hanstad, Marlee Lindberg, Rebecca Stewart, Mallory Waytashek and Emileah Zumberg.
The Department’s mission for this production was to provide mentorship and resources enabling the students to fully realize their artistic vision. As part of this commitment, the Department invited two Twin Cities dance professionals, Camille LeFevre and Diane Aldis to both attend the concert and provide the young artists with a fresh, insightful, critical response to their work. An additional highlight of the concert was the premiere of Jill Patterson’s, Then.Here.Begin, a provocative, physically demanding piece created for this year’s senior class.
Pure Movement Plus was intended to be a venue for creative research in both choreography and design. The Anderson Theatre, normally a thrust stage, was reconfigured as a proscenium stage to allow designers to work innovatively with side lighting. Featured student designers included juniors, Bethany Davidson and Kit Baumer supported by the technical expertise of faculty Larissa McConnell in costume design and Terena Wilkens in the area of lighting and sound respectively.
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