FSU School of Dance’s ‘Evening of Dance’ returns to the stage

Performances for “An Evening of Dance” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre in Montgomery Hall. 
Dancers Rian Wood and Aaron Smith perform in an Evening of Dance concert. Photo by Meagan Helman.

Florida State University’s School of Dance presents “An Evening of Dance,” an annual event that showcases the ingenious choreography and wide range of performance talent of the school’s students and faculty.

Performances for “An Evening of Dance” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre in Montgomery Hall. The concert series offers a captivating and diverse arrangement of classical, contemporary and modern pieces.

“Students’ and faculty’s devotion to their craft and distinction in the field of dance is undeniable, making for a memorable and thrilling event,” said Anjali Austin, chair of the School of Dance.

An excerpt of legacy artist and choreographer Ronald K. Brown’s work, “Four Corners,” set to the music of Carl Hancock Rux, will be restaged on eight current students and alumni performers.

Brown’s choreography blends modern dance and West African influences to portray figures as they seek a life of peace and freedom with the help of “the angels in their corners.”

Ronald K. Brown company member Demetrius Burn gives notes to School of Dance cast of “Four Corners”. Photo by Meagan Helman
Ronald K. Brown company member Demetrius Burn gives notes to School of Dance cast of “Four Corners”. Photo by Meagan Helman

School of Dance Krafft Professor Suzanne Farrell, internationally recognized New York City Ballet principal dancer, 2005 Kennedy Center Honoree and founder of Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company, is restaging an excerpt from George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15.”

Three different casts of FSU dance majors will perform the reconstructed piece.

Rachel Hunter, adjunct faculty, production manager and FSU Dance alumna, will restage retired School of Dance faculty member Dan Wagoner’s “Suite Dan,” a collection of three solos that demonstrate an element of Wagoner’s character and style of movement.

Hunter worked alongside Wagoner on this process and studied archival footage to adapt each solo “Broken Hearted Rag Dance,” “Eyes Like Empty Ballrooms” and “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.”

Associate Professor Gwen Welliver’s 2015 dynamic piece “What a Horse!” will be restaged and performed by School of Dance students. Inspired by Paul Klee’s 1928 drawing of the same name, Welliver used the image of the distorted and obscure horse to create a fast-paced and physically demanding performance.

Welliver is a Bogliasco Foundation Fellow, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow and a New York Dance and Performance Bessie Awardee for Sustained Achievement.

Tickets for “An Evening of Dance” performances are $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens, $12 for children and non-FSU students, and $10 for FSU students with ID. All seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Montgomery Hall Box Office with a credit or debit card starting one hour before each performance.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tickets.dance.fsu.edu.

Cast of Suzanne Farrell's restaging of George Balanchine's "Divertimento No. 15" rehearse for the upcoming Evening of Dance performance. Photo by Meagan Helman.
Cast of Suzanne Farrell’s restaging of George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15” rehearse for the upcoming Evening of Dance performance. Photo by Meagan Helman.