STORY BY
LINDSEY GENTRY

The University of Alabama may be best known for its legendary football program, but its Theatre and Dance program has been providing more aesthetically pleasing performances since 1999. The 2014 season is no different, as approximately 50 dancers take the stage this week, Feb. 18-22, in a concert of ballet, pointe, modern and experimental movement pieces.
Known as the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, ARDT hosts two concerts each year, choreographed by award-winning faculty.

“This semester the show includes repertoire from the ballet Raymonda, a unique modern dance using works of fiberglass art on stage, a passionate jazz dance, an elegant contemporary ballet work and a hard-hitting jazz dance,” said Suzi Schmitt, a junior dance major and performer in the piece.

Like years past, the show offers a range of styles, music and visual elements, much like that of the program’s other well-known production, Dance Alabama! While Dance Alabama! is choreographed and cast entirely by students, ARDT features the vision and talent of the instructors in the program. But that does not mean ARDT pieces are any less shocking or creative.

“I would say it is a much more mature show with much more developed and technical choreography,” junior Allison Eckert added. “Having such amazing and inspirational dance faculty here at the university is truly a treasure.”

Because the show is such a grand production, the process of casting and rehearsing for the spring show begins in October of the previous year. This means the dancers have been refining their pieces for roughly six hours a week for nearly four months while also choreographing pieces for the March Dance Alabama! show and keeping up with other dance classes.

While preparation may be demanding—and no dancer is denying that—the end result is a professional production featuring fresh choreography, perfected technique and synchronized lighting, Eckert said. She also added that audience members might be surprised at the level of professionalism the show takes on although being constructed on a college campus.

The range of styles and overall talent of the dancers makes selecting a must-see piece nearly impossible. However, one instructor in the program, Sarah M. Barry, is pushing boundaries by incorporating music, dance and art in her piece.

“Barry was inspired by a graduate student’s artwork: sculptures that are made completely out of fiber glass,” Maci Arms, a senior graduating in May, explained. “Inspired by these sculptures, Barry then asked a graduate student from the music department to compose a piece that was inspired by the sculptures. The end result is a beautiful piece choreographed by Sarah M. Barry performed with the sculptures all over the stage, as well as a live performance with the composer.”

The visual appeal of the sculptures and movement combined with the live music is sure to captivate audiences, but the dancers in the piece were not always sure the concept could actually materialize.

“Working with these sculptures was difficult at times because our bodies wanted to move to specific places, but at times had to rethink our movement paths due to the sculptures,” Schmitt recalls. “After numerous rehearsals, we became more and more comfortable working with these art pieces.”

Now that the dancers have perfected their pieces, it’s time for the show to begin. And while they’ve practiced for months, audiences only have one week to experience the 2014 ARDT Spring Concert. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at the Theatre and Dance Box Office in Rowand Johnson any time this week. Student tickets are $12, $15 for UA faculty and staff and seniors and $18 for all other adults.

Times:
Feb. 20 : 7:30
Feb. 21: 5:30
Feb. 22 : 2 p.m.