Eight choreographers collaborate in Dance Concert 2000 March 9-12

Seniors, from left, Tatiana Thieme, Katie Dealy and Rachel Boggie practice a move to be performed in the upcoming Dance Concert 2000. The concert of exciting and original dance is scheduled for March 9-12 at the Center for Theatre Arts' Proscenium Theatre. Frank DiMeo/University Photography

To herald the new millennium, Dance Concert 2000 is a single work that is a unique and stimulating collaboration of eight Cornell choreographers, four faculty and four students. In addition, it features original sets, music, costumes and lighting. The concert will be performed March 9-11 at 8 p.m. and March 12 at 2 p.m. in the Center for Theatre Arts Proscenium Theatre. Tickets are $7 for students/seniors and $9 for the general public.

"The challenge of Dance Concert 2000 has been to create a singular work of beauty without surrendering our individual differences and values," said concert director Jumay Chu. "The tensions of artistic integrity and of courtesy have pushed us to release our sense of proprietorship and design dances as our dancers are used to performing them, in constant reference to one another. By democratizing the process, the work of choreography has taken on the very character of dancing, with its passionate commitment to the present moment and to the people attending it."

In addition to Chu, who is a faculty member with the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance, choreographers include senior lecturers Janice Kovar, Joyce Morgenroth and Jim Self and students Cheryl Hunt '00, Ellen London '01, Lena Rose Magee '00 and Tatiana Thieme '00. Among the performers are many Cornell dance students. The sets and lights are by E.D. Intemann, Cornell's resident lighting designer. Costumes, which are designed to move and flow with the dancers, are creations of Advanced Undergraduate Theatre Program student Scott Cronick '00. Lecturer and dance program coordinator Allen Fogelsanger has produced the music in collaboration with Max Buckholtz and Rob Collins.

A discussion for the audience and the performers will follow the March 10 and 11 performances. Self will serve as the moderator. Call 254-ARTS (voice/tty) for tickets and information. Box office hours are 12:30-5:30 p.m. weekdays.