Lamar’s department of theater & dance will present its annual faculty dance concert, “Dance Unleashed,” at 7:30 p.m., May 2 and 3, with a 2 p.m. May 3 in the University Theatre.
The concert will include ballet, tap, modern and jazz numbers. The choreography is created by LU faculty and special guest artists.
“We’re always looking to produce as diverse a concert as possible,” Amy Wright, assistant professor of dance, said. “This semester, we have aerial dance in the concert for the first time in several semesters, which is really exciting for us.”
Wright said this year’s production features a larger cast than usual, with all students working hard to make it a success.
“Our students are working really hard to learn not only how to dance and these particular dances, but all of the professionalism that goes along with the practice of dance at this level,” she said. “They certainly bring that kind of dedication and diligence and self-respect into our process.”
The department likes to bring in special guest artists every year to showcase different backgrounds for the students, Wright said.
“This semester, our guest was Felicia B Avalos, and she is based in New York right now,” Wright said. “She does a lot of work in folklorico dance, tango and different cultural dances. She has set a work on our students that is about her family’s heritage and her father’s work as a migrant farmer.”
Dance department students attend rehearsals outside of their class, making for a packed schedule, Houston junior Darius Arceneaux said.
“We rehearse usually three to four hours a week for each dance,” Arceneaux said. “It’s definitely interesting to balance because our schedule is constantly changing and switching, but I feel like at this point, we’re all ready.”
Kaleigh Alfred, Rosenberg junior, is a member of the dance team on top of being a full-time student in the dance department.
“I have two rehearsals a week on top of my dance team schedule, and I’m gonna be so honest, it’s tiring, but it’s definitely worth it,” Alfred said. “Being on the stage and having our friends and family support us, it’s worth it. And our professors are very supportive.”
Alfred said she hopes the audience will be able to seek their own meaning from the show.
“I think coming to this show with an open mind allows you to experience each number and put your own perspective on each one,” she said. “You can leave with whatever story in mind that you want to leave with.”
Wright said she wants the audience to think about their place in the world and how we function in communities.
“Something that’s really special about the South, and special about this region, is people’s sense of community and people’s sense of closeness to each other,” Wright said. “I think that sharing the arts and creating in the arts is one of the ways that we’re able to experience those things.”
Tickets for the show are $5 for children, $7 for LU students, and $15 for general admission. They are available online at lamar.edu/lutdtix.