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Dance Concert ā€˜Unfolding’ at Westmont

Senior Prudence Gordon
Senior Prudence Gordon

The Westmont Fall Dance Concert, ā€œUnfolding," which features choreography by students and faculty members Susan Alexander, Christina Sanchez and Brooklyn Hughes Melton, is Friday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., all in Porter Theatre. General admission is $10; $7 for students, seniors and children. Tickets may be purchased online at westmont.edu/boxoffice or by calling (805) 565-Ā­7140.
Alexander says the concert seeks to be entertaining and inspirational. ā€œLife unfolds, choreography unfolds, events unfold and stories unfold,ā€ she says. ā€œ A student’s life unfolds over four years, and many things happen along the way to influence the direction the student will take after graduating. ā€˜Unfolding’ could be a metaphor or it could be interpreted more literally.ā€
ā€œBeneath the Surface,ā€ a piece choreographed by Alexander, is inspired by the idea of folding and unfolding body parts. ā€œSome of the movement comes from the dancers working with these images and creating their own choreography as part of the dance,ā€ she says.
In other dances on the program, choreographers have used the image of unfolding in different ways. ā€œSpeed Bump,ā€ a second piece choreographed by Alexander, uses the images of dealing with traffic patterns and navigating an obstacle course, also metaphors for what we confront going through life.
The program includes a piece choreographed by Sanchez for her jazz technique class.
The dance concert includes a solo inspired by classical ballet, choreographed and performed by senior Prudence Gordon, and a hip-hop number, choreographed by Jackie Rose for NSTEP, Westmont’s hip-hop group. In addition, student choreographers Annie Koeller, Rose, and Miranda Wittrock will present group works they have created with subjects profoundly personal and uplifting.
ā€œAs these dance performances unfold, the audience will be surprised, moved and delighted,ā€ Alexander says.