UNLV performance explores movement

Each year, teachers and students of the UNLV Dance Department give a performance that shows the audience what they've worked on so far during the semester. For the faculty, the concert is an opportunity to create as opposed to their usual instruction, and for students, it's a chance to take part in a show with ever-increasing attendance.

This fall's show, "Kinetic Metaphors," slated for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, is a hodgepodge of themed pieces as well as expressions through the medium of movement.

Dance instructor Richard Havey said his piece, titled "Apology," will explore the complex roles of women in society.

"In three sections, it is looking at how the female role in society was not really accepted as an equal to man," he said. "It's about looking at women as equals, giving them a chance to express themselves. The (performance) takes place on a tower in a castle, and there's a garden scenario for the final dance."

Creative free reign has always been given by the College of Fine Arts to the dance department for its performances. This year's will offer multimedia tools as well as props, as opposed to the traditionally flat stage.

"There will be video footage in between each performance," Havey said. "And a statement from each before their piece is shown. The audience will see a bit of each rehearsal, as opposed to just the finished product."

Dance department Chairman Louis Kavouras said one of the most anticipated elements of each concert is the slew of guest artists accompanying the faculty and students. This year's will include Charmaine Hunter of Cirque du Soleil and Jackie Bird of the Broadway Dance Center in New York.

"One of the interesting things about the UNLV dance department is that quite a few of the faculty are still performers," Kavouras said. "We're all vibrant creative artists. Many of the faculty still perform and do work. This concert is a way of encapsulating each of the pieces into what we call concert dance work. It is almost like going to a gallery and looking at various pieces."

Talented guest artists and faculty performances enhance the increased credibility of the dance programs, said Kavouras. Over the last few years, the number of students as well as those interested in dance have grown exponentially.

"We now attract students from across the nation to study dance. Even the size of our audience has really grown," Kavouras said. "We really are being seen almost as a performing company, and our dance concert season is well attended and well respected in the community."

"Kinetic Metaphors" is scheduled to take place this weekend in the Judy Bayley Theatre on the UNLV campus. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for students and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office, or by calling 895-2787.


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