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USM Dance Set to Kick Off Fall 2020 Virtual Concert Series

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 10:36am | By: Ivonne Kawas

The University of Southern Mississippi's dance program, housed in the School of Performing and Visual Arts, is set to kick off its fall 2020 concert series featuring performances that showcase unique and talented choreographed works that have been developed by faculty and students over the course of the semester. The series will broadcast live on Nov. 13, Nov. 14 and Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

"We have come up with exciting ways for students to embark on their junior and senior choreographic projects,” said Lauren Smith, assistant professor of dance.

“As previously announced, we have built a new outdoor stage for our senior solos to be performed, and the juniors are working on an outdoor site-specific concert,” she added. “Both of these will be pre-recorded and streamed online for our audience and we can't wait to see how this ignites future dance making."

The series will feature Southern Miss Repertory Dance Company’s (RDC) Sunset Wanderings on Nov. 13, followed by their Senior Solos from senior dance majors and a premier performance from the Freshmen RDC on Nov. 14. The virtual series will culminate with their Fall Dance Showcase, which will share the independent choreographic and performance work by USM dance majors.

“In a time filled with uncertainty, it is my hope the community can find comfort in the art of dance,” said Hadley Voss, senior dance performance and choreography major. “Creating a piece for our upcoming performance has given me an outlet for expressing all the things I’m feeling, even when I don’t have the words to explain them.”

Students have worked diligently to produce pieces that they are proud of in anticipation of sharing their art with the University and community.

“It was important that my dancers understood concepts of longing and yearning in the aspect of divulging themselves in the spaces of which they dance, as it felt closest to human and is something that I value in any piece of art,” said Brittany Tolbert, junior choreographer of a piece titled, Wings.

Support the Southern Miss Dance program on this creative journey by watching the series live. General admission for Sunset Wanderings and Senior Solos is $5. Price of admission to the Fall Dance Showcase is $9 for the general public and $7 for students, military, and 65+.

For more information regarding the concert series or tickets, visit usm.edu/spva