Arts & Culture
Danstage features new venue and intradepartmental collaboration
The Pointer
Jratc567@uwsp.edu
This year, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Danstage, the department of theater and dance’s annual production, will have a new venue with new opportunities. The department will host the event in the Noel Fine Arts Center studio theater, which allows audiences to view the performance from more than one direction. In the past, the event was held in the Jenkins Theater, where attendees could only view one side of the performance.
Danstage’s works are collaboratively produced. This year, professors and student dancers have included many other artists from the College of Fine Arts and Communication in their projects. The resulting works reflect the spirit of the creative community at UW-SP.
Michael Estanich, who joined the department of theater and dance staff in 2006, worked with 13 dance students to produce "Sediment or The Vast Sky as Seen Through a Glass Pane." They collaborated with art and design major David Kuhl, whose large sculptures will create an environment for the performance.
Instructor Jeannie Hill's "Water Muse" features live music with Ben Petree and Cameron Purcell, percussion students from the music department. The piece’s 14 dancers also contribute to the piece’s auditory element. Costumes for the piece were designed by associate lecturer Pamela Luedtke.
Professor Joan Karlen’s "Lines of Resolution" features video footage by assistant professor of communication John Little. Little’s videos will be projected on the dance floor and the dancers’ bodies. Department chair Gary Olsen has also had a hand in producing digital elements for the visual textures of the piece.
Danstage 2008 will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11. 7:30 performances will be held on April 12, 17, 18 and 19. Matinees will be offered at 2 p.m. on April 13 and 20.
Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $12 for youth. UW-SP students with a valid ID may purchase advance tickets for $4.50 per show or get in free the day of the show if seats are still available. Seating is limited to 150 seats per performance.
Tickets may be purchased at University Information and Tickets counter in the Dreyfus University Center concourse. They can also be purchased by calling (715) 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378 and online at www.uwsp.edu/centers/uit/ordering.asp.