News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kaitlyn King
Public Relations Director
985-237-0890
Kking39@lsu.edu

Nationally acclaimed LSU Dance Ensemble performs

original choreography by students and faculty
BATON ROUGE, (April 3, 2015) - The LSU Department of Theatre presents the 2015
Spring Dance Concert on Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. in the
Shaver Theater of the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. The concert features the LSU Dance
Ensemble with choreography by Head of Dance Sandra Parks. The concert also includes original
pieces by student choreographers Justin Chin and Claire Wyly.
Chins piece is an engaging depiction of the pain experienced through loss. Chin hopes
his choreography will encourage audience members to reexamine their own personal experiences
and possibly come away with a new perspective. I feel using my own personal experiences will
really give more value to the movements and the concept. Anyone can give an idea, but it really
doesnt have any weight to it until you put yourself in it. With my piece I want to put my own
experience in because I think that will really help people receive the idea and relate it to
themselves. Chin believes self-reflection is essential to learning from ones experiences.
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Wyly worked closely with Parks to create her piece, which focuses on the cyclical nature
of life and the element of time. Wyly appreciates the opportunity to showcase her work. Seeing
the choreography I created come alive through the dancers is thrilling. I hope the audience enjoys
my piece as much as I enjoyed choreographing it. Wyly used Parks guidance throughout her
creative process, describing Parks as a mentor and an inspiration. Shes done so much in her
career as a dancer and choreographer, but she still continues to grow and challenge herself. I
really admire that.
Parks created two pieces for the show. The first is a contemporary piece in which dancers
perform en pointe. It centers on the significance of lanterns in Asian culture. A native of Taiwan,
Parks explored her own heritage for this piece, drawing on personal experience as well as
Chinese history. Parks collaborated with LSUs interior design studios, mentored by Associate
Professor Jun Zou and Instructor of Interior Design John Campbell.
Parks second original piece is inspired by the cultures of Congo Square within Louis
Armstrong Park in the Trem neighborhood of New Orleans. The cultural significance of Congo
Square dates back to colonial days, when slaves would gather in Congo Square to set up a market
place. Singing, drumming and dancing were always part of the festivities. Parks explores these
rhythms and their significance to modern culture. LSU School of Music Professor Brett Dietz
composed the music in a traditional African style. LSU interior design students created the
scenery and backdrop.
Parks values collaborating with other artists within the LSU community. According to
Parks, the concert showcases talent from different areas of campus. The skill of local artists will
be proudly displayed through dance, set design, costumes and music.
-more-

Tickets for the Spring Celebration of Movement are on sale now. Prices range from $12 $18. Purchase tickets at the LSU Box Office in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. Contact
the box office by calling 225-578-3527. Tickets can also be purchased by visiting
www.theatre.lsu.edu.
Doors open an hour before each show, and tickets will also be on sale at the door. To see
the Dance Ensembles full repertoire, purchase season subscriptions at the box office or online.
The LSU Dance Ensemble performs throughout the year to engage the LSU and Baton
Rouge community, taking part in creative opportunities and collaborations with local and
national dance and theatre organizations. The LSU Dance Ensemble competes nationally. This
season, the LSU Dance Ensemble performed the Head of Dance Sandra Parks original piece
Another Adventure at American College Dance Festival. The ACDF board selected the LSU
Dance Ensemble to perform at the gala performance. Out of 31 groups, only eight were selected
for this honor. Parks invites world-renowned artists like with Pavel Zustiak, the artistic director
of Palissimo Company, to choreograph pieces and educate the dancers. In addition, companies
such as Sidra Bell NY, Ailey II, Movement Workshop Group, Parsons, and Urban Bush Women
have taught master classes for the Dance Ensemble.
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