Ursinus College Dance Company Spring Concert

The Theater and Dance Department of Ursinus College will present a program of dances titled “Preludes for a New Generation” on April 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM, and on April 21 at 3 PM in the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center’s Lenfest Theater. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $2 for students and senior citizens. For reservations, call 610-409-3795 or e-mail boxoffice@ursinus.edu.

Directed by Visiting Professors of Dance Peter DiMuro and Meredith Lyons, the concert coincides with the inauguration of Bobby Fong and features new works by guest artists Nicole Wolcott, a New York-based choreographer/performer, and Marilyn and Sekou Sylla, artistic directors of Damidele Dancers and Drummers.

The event will mark the premiere of “Shades of Gray,” which was created by Wolcott, who is known for her full physicality, humor and quirky movement style. She is a longtime collaborator of New York choreographer Larry Keigwin. The Syllas, who are frequent visitors to the College, are creating a traditional African dance during a two-week residency in collaboration with the College’s Common Intellectual Experience.

Lyons’ work, “Inside 2,” and excerpts from DiMuro’s “Future Preludes” with music by Rachmaninoff will also be performed. Additionally, Lyons and DiMuro, along with Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Garrett Hope, have collaborated on a multi-media work titled “Turning World,” which uses sound, video images and movement culled from community interviews. Students from the three professors’ classes in Community Arts Engagement, Dance Technology and Music Technology were instrumental in creating sound, image and stories for the work. The collaboration is funded in part by a TLI Mellon Grant administered by Ursinus College. Duane Lee Holland, Jr., an Adjunct Professor and an internationally known dancer/teacher/singer, will appear as a guest in the work.