ASU School of Dance presents Transition Projects I and II

Who
ASU School of Dance in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts undergraduate seniors, faculty, alumnae and special guests

What
Transition Projects I & II are showcased under the artistic direction of Claudia Murphey, ASU School of Dance professor. Transition Projects I & II are programs that encompass a combination of complex performance and innovative choreography studies, Feb. 18–20 on the ASU Tempe campus. Some pieces from Transition Projects I are included in Transition Projects II.

Transition Projects I

Sustainability and soil erosion are subjects examined in a three-part work, Exhausted Abundance. Choreographed by Karen Schupp, School of Dance faculty member, and performed by seniors Mandi Karr and Emily Zakrzewski, the piece explores these subjects in site-specific and theater settings.

In Endless River, choreographed by Mary Fitzgerald, School of Dance associate professor, and in collaboration with seniors Madeline Wilcox and Tara Wrobel, the dancers endlessly separate and come together in an intimate duet about closure and change.

New York-based choreographer Nina Buisson presents Tear of Stone, a solo performed by graduating senior Samantha McHale.

For Her Smile Is Painted On, choreographed by Jenna Kosowski, School of Dance alumna and a solo performance by senior Renee Zuccola, is influenced by the storybook character, Raggedy Ann created in 1915. This was around the period in the U.S. history when women fought for equal rights. The piece plays between the ideas of freedom and femininity. The flow and fluidity of the movements show “freedom” and the overall piece is focused on the “feminine” qualities of dance.

Revolutionary Alarm is choreographed by senior Melissa Britt with the collaboration of senior Paige Mayes, and spoken-word artist Tomas Stanton, and conveys multiple characters through Tomas' spoken words that are designed to captivate the audience in an experience of recreating words and movement at the same time.

Choreographer and senior Alyssa Brown uses minimalist movement in fixAted. This piece depicts a clear focus as the dancers become enthralled with something offstage. It is an attempt to draw the audiences to what is happening both on and off stage, and create an obsessive fixation with something unknown.

Pushing Forward explores and embodies movement through the discussion of transitioning. Choreographer and senior Tara Wrobel, in collaboration with the performers, demonstrates how they are discovering their individual process through their time here at Arizona State University and into their future outside of school.

Transition Projects II

Alumna Cheri Burns-McDowell reveals a new work, White Noise, exploring Electronic Voice Phenomenon through a mysterious woman in white portrayed by Janelle Fehser, graduating senior. In collaboration with Eileen Standley, School of Dance clinical professor, seniors Mandi Karr and Alyssa Brown use movement as a metaphor for society drowning in “over-stimulation” due to the accessibility of technology.

Seniors Emily Millizer, choreographer, and Ashleigh Leite present Sweetheart, a collaboration of the exhilarating movement of Leite and her self-produced video work that explores the inner self of an Arizona State University sorority sweetheart.

Seniors Laura Pellegrino and Kasey Fletcher invite the audience to participate in their piece, The Game Is In Action..., an installation which examines the game Twister through live game-play and video.

Editor’s note: The Endless River, Revolutionary Alarm, and Pushing Forward pieces from Transition Projects I also will be presented in this program.

Where
The Margaret Gisolo Dance Studio is located at 611 E. Orange St., in the Physical Education Building East (PEBE) #132 on the ASU Tempe campus.

When
Transition Projects I: Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 19, 4 p.m.
Transition Projects II: Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 20, 2 p.m.

Cost
Tickets are $8–$21. Contact the Herberger Institute Box office at 480.965.6447, or visit:http://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/events/

Public Contact
Sunny Kuo 
ASU School of Dance
480.965.5029
sunny.kuo@asu.edu

The School of Theatre and Film in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University provides a comprehensive range of courses in performance and directing; design and production; new work development; theatre and performance studies; film; and theatre for youth. Its Theatre for Youth program is nationally ranked in the top three and the dramatic writing/playwriting program is ranked 15th among public institutions by U.S.News & World Report. To learn more about the School of Theatre and Film, visit theatrefilm.asu.edu.

Media Contact:
Sunny Kuo 
ASU School of Dance
480.965.5029
sunny.kuo@asu.edu