48-hour dance relay displays spontaneity

Written by Elise Welch

Thursday, 26 February 2009 17:55

On Wednesday, the 48-hour dance relay began. The final performances will be displayed on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Auditorium.

The relay was set up with a drawing of four possible groups, each with a choreographer. Participation was open to anyone in any major who wished to participate.

It requires raw performances and quick thinking, since the teams have only 48-hours to create a performance. Seventeen volunteers literally drew from a hat Wednesday night, and the relay was officially started Thursday morning. In the hat there were four options that decided whom would be in charge of what, including which dancers will be choreographing the dance, the names and number of dancers that will be performing, the music selection and the props to be used.

As there are only four choreographers, the 13 dancers had to be placed in one of four groups. The four choreographers will have to be thinking on their toes during the days leading to the performances. All dance styles are optional, but the intent is for an assortment of modern dance, with spice and soul included.

The second half of the show on Saturday will shift to a practiced dance choreographed by University of Wyoming dance department’s seniors. It is a culmination of the last two semesters’ work. These seniors include Lindsey Hall, Stephanie Thomas, Tiffany Forester and Kristin Kissell.

The three seniors have also been selected to present their work at the Northwest American College Dance Festival Association in Utah this March.

“It should be a spontaneous relay that we hope to make an annual event,” Nikki Canete, who produced the show, said. “It should be fun with a collection of modern dances.”

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