The Washington University Dance Collective (WUDC), the affiliated dance ensemble of the Performing Arts Department within Arts & Sciences, will unveil “Transcendence,” an evening filled with fresh and original choreography, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5.
Under the direction of artistic leader Cecil Slaughter, a practice professor and head of undergraduate studies in dance, “Transcendence” will showcase 40 performers — displaying a broad spectrum of backgrounds and movement techniques — executing nine pieces created by faculty, students, and guest choreographers.
“’Transcendence’ delves into the capacity to surpass the ordinary and, through our individual endeavors or a push from elements outside ourselves, elevate our routine experiences beyond standard comforts,” Slaughter articulated in his director’s note. “How do you react to restrictions? Compliance or defiance?”
The presentation will commence with 12 dancers in “Must Be the Place,” a reflection on the essence of home by Lexy Sokolowski, a senior in Arts & Sciences majoring in psychology-neuroscience-philosophy and mathematics.
In “Tandem: A Fairytale and Bildungsroman,” Emma Katz, a senior specializing in dance and comparative literature in Arts & Sciences, investigates narrative’s role on stage and in life. “Tabula Rasa” by Christopher J. Salango, a master’s student in dance and a former member of the renowned group Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, reflects on the transformative power of movement to promote understanding.
“World Still Turning,” by Lily Rich, an undergraduate Losos Fellow majoring in dance and religious studies in Arts & Sciences, considers the intriguing blend of frustration and joy that emerges from the acknowledgment that others are not engrossed in one’s individual challenges.
Following will be Slaughter’s “Ascension,” a novel piece for 20 dancers, succeeded by “the sanity of madness,” a performance for 18 dancers created by WUDC co-artistic director Ryadah Heiskell. MFA student Lorraine “Rain” Stippec, known for her performances at The Muny, the Fox Theatre, and other prestigious locations, choreographs “sharing silence,” a composition in three sections exploring the rhythms of interpersonal connections.
In “the questioning mind,” Alexandra Acevedo, a senior pursuing dance alongside marketing and business administration at Olin Business School, investigates the implications of losing faith in oneself.
The program will come to a close with “Rhythm Gardens,” a work by Erin Morris, a 2023 alumna and manager of the Instruction Design Studio at the WashU School of Medicine’s Office of Education. This largely improvised piece, featuring the entire ensemble, pays a heartfelt tribute to the nurturing of relationships.
Performances will take place in Edison Theatre. Tickets are priced at $20, or $15 for seniors, students, and WashU faculty and staff, with free admission for WashU students. Tickets can be obtained through the WashU Box Office.
Edison Theatre is situated within the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. For further inquiries, please call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.wustl.edu.
The article WashU Dance Collective to perform was originally published on The Source.