Currently running at the Stevie Eller Dance Theater is “”Premium Blend 2010,”” presented by the University of Arizona School of Dance.
The show features four premieres of dance performances by students in the dance department, choreographed by professors Amy Ernst, Douglas Nielsen, Susan Quinn and Michael Williams.
The first performance is titled “”Four Temperaments,”” a 20th century neoclassical ballet originally performed at the New York City Ballet and created by founder and ballet master George Balanchine. Few dance companies around the world have been allowed to perform the ballet, and UA Dance has been honored with the opportunity to perform this ballet.
The second performance, “”VOLT””, by Quinn, is based on electrical forces with hip-hop sequencing and classical music. The 20 dancers in this piece show high technical skills and promise to entertain.
“”Hush,”” the third piece, by Ernst in collaboration with Regina Gagliano of Sonora Theatre Works, is a piece incorporating a 42-feet by 60-feet fabric covering the stage. The performance is original because there aren’t a lot of performances using mixed mediums like the fabric and nothing like audiences have usually seen in a dance performance.
The evening ends with “”ITZaJAZZthing”” by Williams. The performance uses jazzy props like canes, chairs and hats. The performance is a mix of trumpet and vocals by Wynton Marsalis and Dianne Reeves.
“”I think it has a good mixture of ballet, modern and jazz allowing for the unseasoned dance audiences to experience different styles, especially with Ernst’s piece,”” said Kenny Bochard, a dance sophomore. “”The stage is completely transformed into a beautiful quilt with dancers moving seamlessly in and out of the fabric.””
This week’s performances are from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28 with shows at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for UA students, faculty and staff, and $25 for general admission. Visit www.uapresents.org or call the Fine Arts Box Office at 621-1162 or UApresents at 621-3341 for tickets.
—Bryan Ponton
