Students showcase original choreography in dance performance

The CMU dance program Student Choreography Showcase took place on Dec. 3, 2022. The showcase features the original choreography of students in the Dance Studies major or Dance minor and is directed by Professor James Wallace. The dancers work on these pieces for 12 weeks of rehearsals, and the showcase is entirely student run. 

This showcase allows participating students to begin developing choreographic skills from their first semester. Dancers have over 24 hours of rehearsals across the semester and complete all the set up and take down on the stage themselves. This structure is similar to what is expected with traveling dance companies and allows dancers to develop their professional skills.  

As a professional choreographer, Wallace strives to provide the same mentorship and support he received when he was a student. He aims to help them develop professional standards for their rehearsals, offering encouragement and constructive criticism. Wallace’s goal in working with students in the showcase is to, “help them grow as choreographers and see their work, and choreography in general, from a different perspective.” 

The Student Choreography Showcase takes place every fall semester. This spring, the University Theater Dance Company performance takes place on April 20-23 in Bush Theater, and features new choreography from CMU faculty, select student works from the Student Choreography Showcase, and international special guest Masashi Action Machine, from Nagoya, Japan.  

This story is brought to you by the  Office of Research and Graduate Studies.