'Shall We Dance?' concert will feature popular, original dance

A variety of dance forms are represented in the Dec. 2-4 short dance concert at Cornell's Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. Posing above, from left, are Jon Wong, Kate Shear, Evan Samek, Diane Gable, Yvonne-Marie Sain and Satya Stainton (in front on floor). Thomas Hoebbel

The Cornell Dance Program will present a fall concert titled "Shall We Dance?" today, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. The title of this concert is meant to remind us of the sheer pleasure and the discipline of dancing, recalling the movies of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and of the current box office hit of the same title. The dance concert will feature original choreography in conjunction with popular dance, including ballroom and hip-hop. Tickets are just $4 in advance.

"The idea of tying this concert to popular culture is based on breaking down the conventions dividing 'high art' and popular forms of dance," said dance concert coordinator Jumay Chu. "The boundary is already fading. Dance can be accessible to all audiences."

The six original dance pieces feature dance styles from the abstract to tango. The music is also diverse, ranging from Latin to hip-hop. The perennial favorite Last Call, a Cornell men's a cappella singing group, will also lend their talents to this dance concert.

The choreographers are Izabela Jaworska, Galen D'Amato, Satya Stainton, Kate Shearman, Yvonne-Marie Sain and Jon Wong.

For tickets and information, call or visit the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts box office, 430 College Ave., between 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. weekdays, or call 254-ARTS.