The Department of Dance at Hope College will present its major annual concert, Dance 49 this year, on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4, and Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11, at 7:30 p.m. in the DeWitt Center main theatre.
The program will feature seven works in styles including authentic jazz/tap, contemporary/modern, jazz/theatre, contemporary ballet and hip hop. The choreographers are guest artists Mark Yonally and Deavondre Jones, and faculty members Kara Madden Brems, Matt Farmer, Lindsey Hanson, Jasmine Mejia and Julie Powell. Approximately 50 Hope students will perform, with about 20 others working on technical and costume crews.
The opening work on the program, “How Insensitive,” choreographed by Mark Yonally, who is the founder and artistic director of Chicago Tap Theatre, is making its campus debut after the student dancers premiered it during Chicago Tap Theatre’s 20th-anniversary gala celebration in Chicago earlier this month. Hope was also honored with Chicago Tap Theatre’s Inspiration Award during the Feb. 18-19 gala for the Department of Dance’s leadership in dance education and high-quality emphasis on tap dance.
The program will continue with “What Remains,” choreographed by Kara Madden Brems; “Rendezvous,” choreographed by Lindsey Hanson in collaboration with the dancers; and “It’s Not a Move, It’s a Culture,” choreographed by Deavondre Jones. Following an intermission, the concert will feature “Untethered,” choreographed by Julie Powell in collaboration with the dancers; “Conform Me Not,” choreographed by Jasmine Mejia in collaboration with the dancers; and “Better Days and Calmer Nights,” choreographed by Matt Farmer.
Erik Alberg is director of design and production. Lighting design is by Erik Van Tassell, sound design by Ken Chamberlain, and costumes and shop management by Anna Hill. Cindy Alberg is stage manager.
Tickets are $10 for regular admission, $7 for senior citizens and Hope faculty and staff, $5 for children age 13 to 18, and free for Hope students and children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets
Audience members who need assistance to enjoy any event at Hope fully are encouraged to contact the college’s Events and Conferences Office by emailing events@hope.edu or calling 616-395-7222 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Updates related to events are posted when available in the individual listings at hope.edu/calendar
The DeWitt Student and Cultural Center is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th streets.