The danceSpace in the Spring

Following the last-ever J Term Winter Dance Experience, our dancers started regular classes for the Spring Semester. Diego Salterini taught a day of master classes the Monday after auditioning students for Joffrey Ballet School’s Summer Intensive. He had multiple notes and positive feedback for our dancers during the class and everyone loved having the opportunity to work with yet another experienced teacher.

photography by Mark Santillano

The dancers are focusing much of their energy on preparing for Beyond Words V, March 18-20. This mixed program highlights Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre and SoMar Dance Works in presentations that will make you laugh and cry and even take your breath away. To raise awareness of violence against women, the March 19 gala performance will include a reception and silent auction to raise funds for SafeNet and the Jenni-Lyn Watson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Following the Friday and Saturday evening performance, meet and talk with the dancers and choreographers at the "Talk Back" session.

Our students have also begun rehearsals for the annual production of Raw Edges. Now in its 18th year, Raw Edges is a Mercyhurst dance tradition highlighting the work of student and guest choreographers.  11 student choreographers will be debuting new works for Raw Edges, May 6-8. The pieces will feature more than 50 dancers over the course of the 4 shows. The student choreographers for this year’s Raw Edges performance held auditions the first week of Spring Term.

photography by Mark Santillano

In other news, other groups of students will be travelling to the annual American College Dance Association March 5-8 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There will also be a group of students going to Project Dance in New York City April 21-24. It is always encouraging to see our dancers outside of the dance space performing and participating in even more learning opportunities.

Speaking of dancing outside of the dance space, during the spring semester several of our Juniors and Sophomores will be studying in Dungarven Ireland as a part of Mercyhurst’s study abroad program. The dancers have excitedly posted numerous pictures of the beautiful landscape of Ireland as well as a video of the 360 degree view of the dance studio they will be practicing in over the course of the semester: https://www.facebook.com/mercyhurst.university.dance/videos/10207251155095984/

Good luck and stay warm to everyone on their journeys and auditions!