Setting the stage
SRU's dance department puts on the finishing touches for the preparation of their concert "New Terrain."
By Ian Blyth
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 1/24/03 Section: Entertainment
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The nearly quiet, empty campus was much different from the energetic, lively stage in Miller Auditorium.
The practicing had become more rigorous, with the dancers determined to perfect the three-performance showcase featuring Nora Ambrosio, professor of dance at SRU; guest artist Bridget Moore and student choreographers and dancers.
Nora Ambrosio sat watching her dancers perform "Bohemia," a modern jazz dance set to the music of Queen. The dance, which Ambrosio choreographed, features 14 dancers.
Ambrosio said the idea for "Bohemia" began with the Queen song "Under Pressure."
"When I was working on the piece I was under a lot of pressure myself," said Ambrosio. "The theme of 'Under Pressure' permeates the whole piece."
According to Ambrosio, at the beginning she felt uncertain about the direction of the piece, but after her dancers showed interest, she decided to continue.
"The dancers are the ones who pushed me to finish the piece," said Ambrosio.
But it wasn't until the students became so excited about the dance that, according to Ambrosio, she decided to expand it to include "Bohemian Rhapsody." Ambrosio said she was studying pop culture at the time and wanted something current for the piece.
"But I didn't want anything too current," said Ambrosio. "I thought back to the music that meant a lot to me and remembered 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' It was the epitome of pop culture and defined the era."
Ambrosio also mentions the popular movie "Wayne's World," which connected the younger dancers to the song due to the song's appearance in the movie.
"All of the dancers were familiar with the song and very happy about it," said Ambrosio. "I usually hate watching my own choreography, but I like watching this."
According to Ambrosio, the level of the dancers' experience and the nature of the dance also makes it unique.
"Working with advanced dancers is a plus; they're very intuitive," said Ambrosio. "I wouldn't have been able to do it with beginning dancers."
Because modern dance tends to be deep and dark, Ambrosio is happy to have a piece that is more simple and fun.
"It's a visual spectacle; it's nice to do something fun," Ambrosio said. "The audience doesn't have to think about it too much and can just enjoy it at a physical level."
Kristin Mazzulli, a senior in elementary education and dance, has a solo in the piece, but Ambrosio said that it wasn't intended to make her the main character. Ambrosio points out that during the song "Bohemian Rhapsody," lead singer Freddy Mercury's voice seems to tell a story.
"Kristin works to balance the piece and become part of the song without singling out the rest of the dancers," said Ambrosio.
Kristen Bachman, a senior exercise science major with a dance minor, explains that the idea for her piece, "Challenges of the Modern Age," came after she found the music in her car. Bachman, who named the piece after an SRU class, said the fusion of hip-hop and modern dance developed from the song "Rick James" by Jude.
"It's a story about college," said Bachman. "How we try to be individual but end up being like everyone else."
Bachman said that when she was choosing dancers to perform her piece, she also cast the dancers into the roles they would play in the dance.
"Everyone plays a character throughout the piece and each of them has a solo, but in the end everything is in unison," said Bachman.
Bachman explains several factors that helped speed the choreography process along.
"I'm a very fast choreographer and it didn't take very long," Bachman said. "But it also helped to work with advanced dancers."
According to Bachman, the more people watch dance, the more they understand it and see that there is no right or wrong answer to what dance is about. Although she has created a story behind her dance, she doesn't believe the audience has to follow that alone.
"Everyone brings their own morality and values to decipher what they see on stage," said Bachman. "Everyone can get something different out of dance."
Brandy Niccolai, a junior dance major, used basic elements of modern dance and powerful images to create her piece "Don't Ask." Niccolai said she gave each of the dancers a picture that depicted a shocking or disturbing event and asked the dancers to become the story in the painting.
She then asked the dancers to create a phrase, or a small measure of dance, to interpret the way the painting made them feel. This, according to Niccolai, drove the choreography and the dance.
According to Niccolai, she choreographed the piece so the dancers would be staring into the corner, focusing on the image the painting gave them.
"I told the dancers to put what scared them into that corner," said Niccolai. "It drove them and made the dance more powerful to have the image."
According to Niccolai, the mood of the piece is dark and is enhanced by the ominous soundtrack.
Niccolai also stresses her belief in using all of the dancers for as much of the piece as possible.
"I like to use all of my dancers all of the time," said Niccolai. "It's important to use all of the dancers because without them the piece wouldn't be where it is."
Niccolai said she also wanted the piece to be open to interpretation.
"I didn't want it to be confusing like some modern dance," said Niccolai. "If you leave it open it's easier on the audience and makes it more attractive."
The concert begins at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 and runs through Feb. 1 in Miller Auditorium. The first two performances will include a meet-the-performers session immediately following the concert. Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $5 for general admission and $3 for senior citizens and students with Slippery Rock I.D.
