University Dancers celebrate 30 years of education through dance

The University of Richmond student dance company, University Dancers, will celebrate 30 years of education through dance with an upcoming concert called @30.

The concert will feature a variety of unique choreography created by UR students, faculty and guest artists. Performances are Feb. 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and March 1 at 2 p.m. in the Alice Jepson Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase through the Modlin Center for the Arts.

@30 will include two new dance works created by student choreographers, Nathan Watwood and Kit Knapp. Watwood’s choreography incorporates a drone from the Department of Physics, and his choreography will be presented at the American College Dance Association’s annual conference in March.

“@30 will be a truly unique and exciting way to celebrate 30 years of excellent performance,” said Anne Van Gelder, artistic director of University Dancers. “The concert features Richmond students in original works created at Richmond by students, faculty, and through guest artist residencies.”

University Dancers will premiere “Union of the Senses,” a piece by Norbert De La Cruz III. Mr. De La Cruz, a professional freelance choreographer based in New York City, was named Joffrey Ballet’s 2014 Choreographer of Color and completed a residency at Richmond in November 2014.

“Our students are fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with artists of this caliber, and each guest choreographer has expressed to me that their experience working with the faculty, staff and students at Richmond has been productive, professional and conducive to creativity,” Van Gelder said.

Van Gelder’s new work, Andante, will be performed live on stage by students of the UR Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joanne Kong.  Choreographic works from other guest choreographers and faculty, including Kanji Segawa, Kim Urba (alumna) and Matthew Thornton, will be featured as part of the spring concert.

For more information on @30 specific performances, visit Modlin Center for the Arts.

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