The venue is oddly quiet, considering the rush of people streaming through the doors.
The Masters of Fine Arts dance performance, “Here We Are” has just ended and the audience is leaving Charlotte York Irey Theatre.
“Here We Are” is a modern dance performance, hosted by CU’s Dance Department. The performance utilized movement, mixed-media (such as videos, spoken word, and props like sand), and music to express themes to the audience.
“I thought the performance was very interesting. Race is an issue that’s always being discussed, so I liked that the performance raised important questions about it,” said Melody Lajoie, a 20-year-old integrated physiology student.
Lajoie was among the contemplative crowd departing the theater. She said she discovered meanings in this piece that were significant to her.
Choreographed by MFA candidates Rachael Harding and Stephanie Kobes, the show presented pieces that delved into the serious topic of memories of racism. The concluding piece expressed concerns over racism in today’s society and left the audience with questions for them to ponder on their way out:
“Do you notice the color of people around you?”
“How do you define racism?”
CU students might be surprised to learn their dance department deals with issues as weighted as racism.
“This isn’t anything you would ever see in ballet. Ballet is all about princesses and fairies. It’s good to bring different perspectives to issues. It’s nice to hear these important issues coming from a creative outlet,” Lajoie said.
Members of the CU dance department said they hope performances such as this one will invite the audience to reflect on their own lives and memories.
“Here We Are” included videos, spoken text, recorded poetry and other forms of media not typically associated with a dance concert.
“I’ve never been to a dance performance before that had a video in it-much less a video that has comedians in it. This type of performance would really make people pay attention,” Lajoie said.
Kelsey Ostenson, a 22-year-old integrated physiology junior said she loves dance and the important messages it can communicate.
“I like to see what different people bring to the table. Different people bring different messages,” Ostenson said. “Dance is my favorite way to express myself.”
Having danced in the past, Ostenson appreciated the depth of this performance.
“Ballet is fairytale-esque, while modern dance, like this performance, deals with real issues.”
The CU Dance Department will be holding the Bachelor’s of Fine Arts performance, “Enter: Lucid Dreams” Oct. 23- 25.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mary.rochelle@colorado.edu.
