CONTEMPORARY DANCE ENSEMBLE | Structures

Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble presents “Structures,” March 4-6, 2010 at 7:30pm in the Ragan Theater, featuring works of artistic director Doris Hudson de Trujillo, and nationally and internationally acclaimed guest choreographers: Todd Allen, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Monica Campbell, Heather Colledge Gray, Stephen Koester, and Titos Sompa.
“Structures” relates to the physical and abstract aspects of human life and interaction. The works within the concert reflect each choreographer’s unique point of view and connections to the concept. Founded in 2006 by Associate Professor of Dance Doris Hudson de Trujillo, Contemporary Dance Ensemble is a pre-professional level modern dance company at UVU.
Doris Hudson-Trujillo’s new work, “On The Other Side,” explores our propensity as a society to build defensive walls. This work was conceived as the wall between Mexico and the United States was erected, and further informed during CDE’s recent tour to Spain. The work is rich with imagery and dynamic motion.
“Bridge,” choreographed by Ririe-Woodbury’s Artistic Director, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, features guest performances by Joe Blake, Juan Carlos-Claudio and Wilson Domingues. The work creates a frequently crossed line of division between men and women resulting in a variety of physical entanglements.
Stephen Koester, Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Utah and former Co-Artistic Director of Creach/Koester, an all male dance company based in New York City, has choreographed a work set to the music of Robert Mendoza, structured largely around the concept of a tag team duet.
“Untethered,” a new work by Monica Campbell uses a set that defines and structures space. The work is spatially alive with motion that accentuates the framework of the structure. Monica is a former dancer of the Diavalo Dance Company and a current adjunct faculty member at UVU.
Ballet choreographer, Heather Colledge Gray, premieres her first piece, “Sculpting Solidarity,” with an intriguing animal-like movement. Heather was a principal dancer with the Het National Ballet and is currently Ballet Mistress for Utah Regional Ballet.
Founder and Artistic Director of Mbongi Dance Theater Project, Titos Sompa, choreographed “Kisingu,” a piece that celebrates life through the traditional Congolese rhythms and movement of Zebolah Mutwashi, and Ganza. These rhythms, which signify healing, fertility, and rite of passage will be played live by Kaz Spiers, local drummer and artisan, and Kim Strunk, Associate Professor of Dance at UVU.
Todd Allen’s, ”In Between Counts,” is a work that relates the similarities we find in other people as things come together and fall apart. Todd is a former member of RDT and has been dancing in NYC as a performing artist with notable companies such as the Mark Morris Dance Group and Mark Dendy.
Tickets may be purchased at Campus Connection, located in the Sorenson Student Center, 801.863.8797. Prices are $10.00 for students and faculty and $12.00 for the general public.