"Gridlock" by Heather Klopchin, photography by Laura Grossman
As Gustavus Adolphus College celebrates its 150th anniversary of inspiring, educating, and cultivating young minds, the Department of Theatre & Dance celebrates the Sesquicentennial with its Spring Dance Concert, titled Something Like Flight. It features the choreography of four Gustavus faculty, three guest artists, and one student. The concert displays talent, artistic vision, and the Gustavus Department of Theatre & Dance continuing pursuit of innovation.
Something Like Flight is a colorful combination of many styles, stories, and dancers. The topics explored in the concert range from the relationships, with ourselves and with others, to the chemistry of the brain, to the experience of leaving one’s homeland, to the isolation and disconnection in today’s world. Gustavus faculty Sarah Hauss, Melissa Rolnick, Jeffrey Peterson, and Michele Rusinko have choreographed unique and distinctive pieces for the concert. Rusinko’s work will feature five alumni returning to the Anderson stage and in addition to the piece Hauss has choreographed on students, she will perform a solo as well.
Three guest artists have joined the Gustavus faculty in participating in this celebration of dance: Gustavus graduate Ashleigh Penrod, Heather Klopchin, professor of dance at St. Olaf and dancer with the Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theatre company, and Jennifer Glaws, whose work was first showcased this past fall in The Choreographer’s Gallery. Their unique personal histories, combined with the passion and dedication of Gustavus dancers creates a fresh and exciting combination presented at Gustavus for the first time. Senior dance honors major Renee Guittar’s piece, Stop the Smallest Things, originally performed in The Choreographer’s Gallery, will be set on the Anderson Theatre stage once again.
Under the artistic direction of Melissa Rolnick and Michele Rusinko, the concert will prove to be entertaining, thought provoking, and appealing to the audience on multiple levels. Rusinko’s piece will feature the set design of faculty Micah Maatman and the costume design of alumna Kristen Weller. Faculty members Terena Wilkins and Larissa McConnell will design lights, sound, and costumes, respectively.
Performances of Something Like Flight scheduled in Anderson Theatre on March 16 & 17 at 8:00 p.m. and March 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for all performances are available online at www.gustavustickets.com or by calling the Gustavus Ticket Center 507-933-7590.