Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Rutgers seniors perform final dance show
By Morgan Refakis
Daily Targum (Rutgers)
04/24/2007

(U-WIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — When you're a senior dance major, senioritis and tendonitis are synonymous. No one knows this better than the senior class of the department of dance at the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.

The group presented a show of their own work last Thursday and Friday, titled "Spoke," at the Loree Dance Studio of the Loree Building on Douglass campus.

There were 12 pieces, each choreographed by a student who will graduate in May. The show itself marked the last performance of their undergraduate careers.

Mason Gross senior Heather Sklar choreographed a piece titled "Bar-Code" for six dancers.

"I was inspired after talking with my roommate, who is an advertising major. ... I started to notice ads and how they are targeted at our subconscious and get into your head," Sklar said. "It's not about personal relationships, but about external relationships."

Sklar said she worked with the notion of how advertising companies construct target groups by physical appearance and social class, concentrating the dance on how relationships develop with bodies in space as opposed to emotional relationships.

The accompanying music for the piece was "Stream" by Tim Reynolds, with costumes consisting of tank tops and shorts tie-dyed by Sklar. The bright colors were intended catch the eye, much like advertisements.

The class of nine seniors studied choreography the entire year. The students experimented with different compositions until they found one to perfect and perform. Associate professor Julia Ritter acted as "artistic adviser" to the seniors. Ritter went to rehearsals, provided feedback and met individually with the students.

"Julia was great because she helped me with phrasing, entrances and exits," said senior Sarah Murphy.

A more lighting-oriented piece, "Spoke," was fully produced by dance students under the guidance of associate professor John Evans.

Students in the Dance Production class had the opportunity to design the lighting scheme for the pieces.

Jennifer Segner co-designed with Shannon MacDowell, both of whom are second-year bachelor of fine arts dance majors.

"It was neat to see how your lighting changes the perception of the dance," Segner said.

Segner, along with MacDowell, lit Mason Gross senior Lauren Melusky's piece, "Dissonance, A Reflection Sonata." The dance incorporated small, square mirrors — a choreographic choice by Melusky. When the dancers moved with them, the mirrors reflected flashes of light into the audience.

Murphy choreographed her piece, "Mirage," for four dancers. Unlike Sklar's choreography, Murphy didn't start with a concept.

"I knew I wanted to work with these four people and that I wanted live music," she said.

Still, as the year went on, she began to feel more comfortable with the piece and is pleased with the final result. "Mirage" is set to live music composed and performed by Mason Gross juniors Justin Bulava, Gavri Tov Yares and graduate student Aaron Ragsdale.

"I enjoy being in rehearsal and being directed ... while making someone else's ideas come to life," she said.

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