During Nov. 21-23, UTM’s Dance Ensemble presented various types of dance and the theme was called “Dance Defined.” It was a night of unique dances and sad goodbyes on the campus of UTM.
The night started off with an introduction by Professor Sarah McCormick, assistant professor of Visual and Theatre Arts, explaining why this year’s show was special.
“Tonight is a special night, because there will be some students performing tonight that will no longer be dancing with us after this year,” McCormick said.
The students mentioned in this introduction were Morgan Bowker, Leah Graham, Will “Kar” Howard, Mackenzie Moore, Ashleigh Morrow, Noriyuki Suetsugu and Abby Taylor.
The first dance of the night was called “Vanity,” choreographed by senior Fine and Performing Arts major Morgan Bowker. She danced in the piece with her fellow dance ensemble members. The emotional performance drew audiences in as the dancers twirled and leaped to “Candlelight” by Imogen Heap.
Later on in the show, the ensemble gave the audience some fiery attitude when Leah Graham and Ashleigh Morrow, both senior Fine and Performing Arts majors, joined Bowker on the stage to perform a sassy number to “Heartburn” by Alicia Keys.
Morrow not only danced throughout the show, but she also choreographed a piece with McCormick. The piece was dedicated to McCormick as well as to Morrow’s grandmother and aunt. The piece was called “Cancer Never Sleeps,” and the dancers almost had the audience in tears.
Morrow is one of the seniors leaving the ensemble to begin student teaching next semester.
“It’s bittersweet. I’m happy to be graduating. I’m just sad to be leaving my friends that I’ve been dancing with for so long,” Morrow said.
Howard, a senior Criminal Justice major who is dancing his last semester with the ensemble to focus on his studies as his graduation date approaches, danced a piece with Taylor, a junior Fine and Performing Arts major, who is also departing from the ensemble.
The piece was called “Heart of the Broken,” choreographed by Corey Smith, a junior Fine and Performing Arts major and Morrow.
Howard also choreographed a number with Smith called “Made to Love” and spoke on his feelings about his last time dancing and the advice he would give new dancers.
“It’s sad, because I’m leaving my friends and family, but this has created opportunities for bigger and better things. The best advice I could give is to keep a level head and dance your heart out. Leave it all on the floor,” Howard said.
When it comes to statements that need to be said and heard, Carly Hill took that idea and made her statement heard through dance. She choreographed a powerful piece speaking out against violence and rape called “The Phoenix.”
“This was really a powerful experience. It meant a lot to show something that meant something to me,” Hill said.
Along with other students leaving the ensemble, one is also leaving the country. Exchange student Noriyuki Suetsugu danced for the last time at UTM in a “JT Breakdown,” choreographed by Smith with a music mix of Justin Timberlake, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams.
Three nights of choreography and dancing couldn’t just happen overnight. When asked what preparations were needed to dance in the show, Carmen Norfleet, a junior Fine and Performing Arts major, responded honestly.
“I prayed and practiced,” Norfleet said.
The final night was full of tears and sad goodbyes.
Choreographers who also had pieces in the show were Megan Riley, a senior Fine and Performing Arts major and Bria Evans, a junior Fine and Performing Arts major.
Most of the other dancers in the show were Fine and Performing Arts majors, including freshman Georgia Ciprian; freshman Kendel Dixon; freshman Ciera Fielding; freshman Emily Summerville; freshman Erin Windham; sophomore Amber Gentry; sophomore Jenna York; junior Kendall Fowler and senior Shannon Jester.
Other majors were represented as well, with sophomore Family and Consumer Science major Christy Locke, freshman Family and Consumer Science major Amber Boykin and senior Integrated Studies major Mackenzie Moore.
