New Danceworks III showcases ASU student choreography from the Herberger College of Fine Arts

TEMPE, Ariz. - Three Herberger College dance students will choreograph and perform the best of their repertory during the final New Danceworks series concert, held in March on the ASU Tempe Campus. New Danceworks III , part of the Department of Dance graduate curriculum, is the culmination of rigorous study by emerging artists who are exploring Eastern European, African and urban American influences on modern dance.

New Danceworks III, March 2-5, features three works highlighting the research and choreogprahpy of Master of Fine Arts candidates Monique I. Jones, Erica Nielsen and David Titchnell.

Jones choreographed two works for the concert. "The Shunned" is set on 11 dancers, to the song "Dead Presidents Theme" by Danny Elfman and an original score by William Swayze. The work "Sankofa" is an Akan word meaning, "one must return to the past in order to move forward." The piece is inspired by Julius Lester's book, To Be a Slave , which includes personal narratives by African-American slaves. Jones designed the set and props for each of the works, and designed the costumes with Jacqueline Benard.

Nielson's "Bulgarian Travelogue" comprises two sections. It is based on her intensive fieldwork in Bulgaria, conducted in the summer of 2004 and the winter of 2005. Each section is performed by four to nine dancers, including Nielson. In addition, Nielson designed the lighting and the props for the piece.

"Jam on the Rhythm" combines the talents of graduate student David Titchnell and community artist Darryl Khalid. The piece is set on nine dancers, and is a collaboration of Foot Klan Dance Co . - innovators in Hip Hop movements - and Street Jam , a "stomp" style global percussion and dance band.

Tickets for the New Danceworks series are $5-18 and available online at http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/mainstage/or through the Herberger College Box Office, 480-965-6447. New Danceworks III is March 2-4, 7:30 p.m. and March 5, 2 p.m. All concerts are in ASU's Dance Studio Theatre, PE East 132, 551 E. Orange St.

The Department of Dance, rated among the top 10 programs in the country, is a division of the Herberger College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University. To learn more, visit http://dance.asu.edu 

Media Contact:
Denise Tanguay 
480.965.7144
denise.tanguay@asu.edu