Dancing On & Springing Ahead!

RWU’s Dance & Performance Studies Program is excited to announce another semester line-up of dynamic events and guest artists!

Dancing in London – Spring Semester Abroad!

After two years of pandemic cancelations, RWU’s Dancing in London program (partnered with RWU’s London Theatre Program) is on, during spring semester this time!  RWU dancers will be living, learning, and dancing in London – taking classes at professional studios, and working with award-winning professional choreographers, teachers, companies, and arts administrators, such as:  Renaud Wiser, Stephen Pelton, Katie Lusby, Sarah Poekert, Alex Simpkins,  James Pett, Travis Clausen-Knight,  Alexander Whitley , and Donna Meierdierks.  Students attend scores of theatre and dance performances, explore multitudes of museums, have weekly culturally-oriented day trips and guest workshops – and even earn a week-long vacation with their own Britrail Pass in hand!  This is one of the gems on the crown of RWU’s Dance & Performance Studies Program – we are very happy to have it back again!

Aretha Aoki – Guest Artist!

February 5 - 12

RWU’s Alive! Arts Series; School of Humanities, Arts, and Education; and the Dance & Performance Studies Program have partnered in welcoming Aretha Aoki – a radically stunning performer and incredibly generous teacher.  We are thrilled to have Aoki at RWU – teaching several master classes, setting repertory on Dance Theatre Company dancers, and performing two of her own works, which she describes as:

Wind in the Pines (2019) – a collaborative, interdisciplinary dance project that weaves memoir, digital design, sound and dancing to create an immersive excavation of a mysterious family past.  Centering around my Japanese family history during World War II, [the piece] attempts to make the past feel present, despite language barriers, geographical and cultural distances, and the imperfection of memory.

IzumonookunI (in process) – a sci-fi-punk-futuristic mixed media dance piece that reimagines the life and work of Izumo no Okuni, the founder of the Japanese dance theater form, Kabuki through dance, built objects, and live music.

Edisa Weeks Master Class!

March 9, 3:50 – 5:10pm, Performing Arts Center, Dance Studio

Brooklyn, NY based choreographer, educator, and director of DELIRIOUS Dances, Edisa Weeks will be visiting our Performance Lab and Movement Analysis course – please reach out if you would like to attend!

Jr / Sr Dance Show!

March 9 & 10, 7:30pm, https://rwu.booktix.com/

The Jr / Sr Dance Show gives our multi-talented Dance Majors and Minors a chance to put their skills together as they collaborate on their own student-choreographed, student-produced, dance concert.  Highlighting smaller works – solos, duets, and trios – this event gives audiences a portrait-view into each dancer’s distinct style and artistry.  Please join us as we celebrate our extraordinary Jr’s and Sr’s – as they work both on stage and behind the scenes!

Bryn Cohn Week-Long Guest Artist Residency:

March 28 – April 2

Visiting RWU from Los Angeles, CA, Bryn Cohn – an award-winning choreographer, educator, filmmaker and movement director – will be sharing her dynamic mashup of influences as she teaches several master classes by day and choreographs a piece for our Dance Theatre Company members by night.

Dance on Film – Friday Night at the Movies!

April 29, College of Arts & Sciences Building, Room 157, 7 – 8pm, free  

By the end of the semester, we all need a little R& R and some just plain fun – say, a movie night with friends!  Members of Motion State Arts – RWU Dance professors Ali Kenner Brodsky and Andy Russ – will be sharing their most recent Motion State Dance Film Series with us!  Please join us, seats are first come first served.

RWU Dance Theatre Company – In Concert!   

May 5 – 7, 7:30pm & May 8, 2pm,  https://rwu.booktix.com/

Dance Theatre Company – the Program’s professionally-oriented student dance company will be presenting their capstone week of performances featuring the work of our spring guest choreographers Aretha Aoki and Bryn Cohn – as well as five works by student choreographers:  Julia Bellieveau, Grace Jaworski, Jordan Raleigh, Jordan Roberts, and Nicole St. Laurent!  Join us in celebrating the successes of Spring 2022 – and our graduating seniors!

Want more information about an event?  Please contact cnicoli@rwu.edu