Repertory Dance Company Returning to Mannoni PAC Nov. 6-9

The Repertory Dance Company at The University of Southern Mississippi will showcase emotionally inspired works by faculty and students Nov. 6, 7 and 9 in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center (PAC) on the Hattiesburg campus. General admission is $15, $10 for seniors and military, and $6 for students.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 7, and will start at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9. At the start of the matinee on Nov. 9, The Department of Dance will host a brunch at 11 a.m. for all Southern Miss Department of Dance alumni and will announce this year's inductees into the Department of Dance Hall of Fame.

The concert features performances and choreography by Southern Miss Dance Department faculty and students, as well as guest artists. The theme of the nine performances ranges from memory to women's body image.

“While overall dance members have to be dedicated to this art form and academics, Southern Miss dancers and choreographers are incredibly driven and are continually growing as artists,” said Elizabeth Lentz-Hill, assistant professor in the Department of Dance.

The dance concert will open with the performance “Coloumb's Law,” a duet that focuses primarily on ideas pertaining to partnering. The concert then proceeds with “Swatch,” which incorporates the idea of sampling and will provide a look into social dances and everyday interactions.

“Factored Intimidation” is a face-paced and animalistic piece filled with warrior-like movement and sharp focus.  In the performance “The Distorted Memory Collection,” the work will explore how a life experience evolves within a being.

“Song of Solomon 4:7” is inspired by the statistic that only 4 percent of the female population believes they are beautiful. This performance will demonstrate the vulnerability of dancers.

“N.L.S.” is a piece that explores improper ballet phrases, while the last student performance, “Dependent On, Determined By” is performed by a trio that plays with the ideas concerning time, space and the human reaction to it.

“Seven by Twelve,” choreographed by Meredith Early, an assistant professor of Dance, is an episodic dance experience that unfolds in seven movements. “Rooms That Recede,” choreographed by CoCo Loupe, visiting instructor in dance, is a dance in which images and sensations of travel collide and blend.

Lentz-Hill says The Repertory Dance Company is thrilled about returning to Mannoni Performing Arts Center after several years away due to theater renovations.

Mannoni has been out of commission since construction in fall 2012 and then from damage by the tornado that hit the Hattiesburg campus in spring 2013. Students and faculty found alternative venues, such as the Thirsty Hippo and Brewsky's, making Dance for Film works and creating dances for the studio theatre venue.

Lentz-Hill believes that dance is an expressive art form and believes dance is a big part of our lives, especially in the Gulf South. “We want the community to come and see this art form that's a part of who we are as people and experience the art that dancers put their heart into,” Lentz-Hill said.

For more information about the Department of Dance, call 601.266.4161 or visit http://artsandlettersnow.usm.edu/index.html.