The following was written for a school newspaper during my early years of college. I include it here for archival purposes.
Students of Dixie can expect an eclectic mix of dancing in the coming weeks.
The Dixie State Dance Company is slated to put on a formal dance concert Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
According to a news release put out by the Dance Company, the audience can expect modern, ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom and hip-hop dancing. The Fall Dance Concert will feature choreography from dance students, faculty and [a] guest choreographer.
“What’s cool about the dance company as opposed to a dance team is that we try to incorporate all different styles of dance,” said Jordan Christensen, a junior psychology major and member of the dance company from St. George.
The dance company has a long history of successful performances.
“This is our 26th dance concert,” said Li Lei, dance department director. “All of our dance concerts are very well received by our audience. …We have had [a] full house… for every dance performance.”
Twenty-one full-time DSU students will be participating in the Fall Dance Concert. In order to be a part of the dance company, students must enroll in two technique classes aside from the practices regularly held for the company, said Lindsey Larsen, a junior communication major and member of the dance company from Pocatello, Idaho.
“I am very proud of our students, and [I’d] like to express my great appreciation to our students for their strong determination, dedication and diligent practice,” Lei said.
Much practice and preparation go into each concert the dance company puts on, Lei said. The dancers practice Monday through Saturday in the Graff Performing Arts Building.
The learning curve in the dance company is very fast-paced.
“Sometimes it’s just go, go, go,” Larsen said. “It’s not that we have a limited amount of time—it’s just a lot of work.”
“When it’s this last week, you’re kind of in crunch time mode,” Christensen said. “You have longer practices, so you’re physically tired—mentally tired and emotionally tired.”
Putting it all together has its own challenges.
“Time has always been a huge challenge for us,” Lei said. “Starting from making decisions for themes and music, then choreographing, rehearsing and polishing, the entire process has to be completed in 10 weeks.”
Tickets for the concert are available at the Cox Performing Arts Center ticket office: 435-652-7800. Adult tickets are $12, senior and youth are $10 and student tickets are $2 with DSU student ID.