'Spring Into Dance' tries something new, draws 1,285 over four-day run

Southeast Missouri State University students and staff tried something new with this year's "Spring Into Dance" performance -- inviting dance, music and art majors to participate -- and it worked, several of the show's directors agreed Sunday.

In the ballet's four-day run, the River Campus sold 1,285 tickets, with the show's biggest night, Saturday, drawing 372 people. A total of 241 attended Sunday's show.

Audiences have come to expect a variety of dances in Act I, according to choreographer Marc Strauss. This year, the act featured six performances, including student-choreographed pieces by Danielle Albertina, Thomas Proctor and Laura Roth. Faculty members and one guest artist choreographed the three other pieces.

Act II was a ballet including four of the seven movements of "The Planets" by Gustav Holst. More than 100 Southeast students from three departments -- art, music and dance -- collaborated to make the production come to life, said Strauss, who choreographed "Mercury, the Winged Messenger" in the show.

"Things have been great, beyond our wildest dreams," Strauss said Sunday as he watched people buy tickets at Bedell Performance Hall. "People love the live music. They've been encouraging us to keep doing that as often as we can."

Retired Perry County music teacher Brucee Woods said she came to the show specifically to see "The Planets." She was eager to hear how the dancer interpreted Holst's work, which she remembered teaching to her students in a music appreciation course.

"I taught "The Planets," she said during intermission. "I was excited to read they were performing it. I'm excited to see how it works with the art."

As a former tap dancer, though, and a singer in her college choir, Woods said she enjoyed Act I, too. It was clear, she said, the students were connected to their dancing.

Chance Hall, a sophomore pursuing a bachelor's degree in dance who performed in a duo with Roth called "Light and Gold" caught her eye, Wood said.

"I think their synchronization is marvelous," Woods said. "I think he is so outstanding with his movements, they just seem to fall into place," Woods said.

Janet Stewart, who attended "Spring Into Dance" with her husband Kevin and daughter Sarah, said their family gets to the River Campus for shows as often as they can. The Stewarts were also looking forward to the collaboration between the art, music and dance students.

"You can expect a lot of different things with color and movement," Janet Stewart said. "It is fun, but it is a discipline. And as a community, it just adds to the whole opportunity we have in Cape Girardeau being able to come to the River Campus."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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