The UT Martin Dance Ensemble will present its fall semester showcase, Ambivalence, at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17-18, in the Harriet Fulton Theatre of the Fine Arts Building on campus.
The dances are choreographed by the director of the ensemble and professor, Sarah McCormick, but also by students Marlee Scott, Lanna Kate Graves and Maleia Bigham, who also are performing in the showcase.
McCormick says she is so proud of how her students have taken on this difficult task of putting on a show like Ambivalence.
“A lot of work has been put into this show! There have been some bumps on the road, you might say, this semester, but with every challenge students stepped up and figured things out. I am so proud of the work they have put into the show,” McCormick says.
Bigham, a freshman Dance Education major, says she is most excited to dance with a big group of her friends and to debut pieces that are near and dear to her heart. When asked what kind of dances she will be performing she gave a real and raw response.
“There is such a variety of dances in this show that have themes of friendship, love, death and unity. That’s why the show is called Ambivalence, because it deals with different mixed emotions,” Bigham says.
Members of the UT Martin dance program poured their heart and soul into this showcase, Bigham says, which is one of the reasons she is so thrilled about performing.
Scott, a sophomore Dance Education major, has been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the show, like making sure all the dances are in a certain order, doing costume checks, creating and learning her own dances, and much more. She says she is excited to be on the dance floor performing once again.
“The feeling that I get when I’m performing is like no other; it’s like flying and falling all at the same time while baring your soul to a bunch of strangers without saying a word. It’s powerful stuff,” says Scott, who is performing in four of the eight pieces in the show.
When asked why students should attend the show, Scott says, “Students should want to broaden their horizons and try something new. Many people I have spoken to knew nothing about our major or ensemble program and were interested to see what it’s like. This show is the perfect opportunity to see what we study day in and day out – a true art form that takes time, skill, patience and dedication.
“Seeing this show will give students a new perspective and respect for dancers and should excite them to learn more about what the arts at UTM has to offer,” she says.
