Dixie State University's dance department performed in its annual showcase Nov. 21-22. Many different styles of dances are in their showcase, including some jazz and ballet. Photo by Madison Boyd.
Dixie State University dance department stomps its way to the stage for a final concert of the semester, which was shaped from hard work and creativity through dance.
Dixie State University dance department is hosting its semi-annual student dance concert. The concert is Nov. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. in the Dolores Dore Eccles Fine Arts Center.
Assistant Professor of Dance Jennifer Weber said events like this are meant to show off the hard work and training the students go through whether through stage production, choreography or resilient practice. She said that the dance department seeks to provide an opportunity for their students to perform on stage while honing their skills as dancers and performers.
The students in the dance department work long hours to condition their bodies to perform, said Cristal Kamba, a senior dance major from Provo. Almost every week more than five hours of practice, choreography and training go into their performances.
Kamba said dancing has been a part of her life from a young age. Deriving from a Mexican background, she said anything her family does involve dancing, from birthdays to thanksgiving celebrations, which largely inspired her to pursue dancing on a college level.
“It inspires me to dance and learn about different cultures and traditions like west dancing and modern dancing,” Kamba said.
There are various techniques and styles when it comes to dancing, said Kindra Johnson, a senior dance major from Pedatello, Idaho. Johnson said some of her favorite styles of dance are jazz and ballet. She said jazz dance is something she has practiced for a long time with her old dance company since middle school and has carried it to college. Ballet is something that requires a tremendous amount of skill to accomplish.
“There is a different kind of grace in ballet that isn’t present in other styles of dance,” Johnson said. “Its hard but its made to look effortless.”
Johnson and Kamba both said they feel people can benefit from taking a dance class. While some may have to turn in a large research project, dance majors have to train and condition their bodies for their curriculum, Kamba said.
“This is a whole semester’s worth of work from the dance department,” Kamba said. “People should come and see our hard work.”
Weber said there is a lot of knowledge and challenges that many people don’t know about when it comes to dancing. Many of the student choreographers don’t stop their work even when the semester is through, she said.
“Usually our students take a few weeks off to spend time with their families then jump right back into their rigorous routines to make sure they’re ready to pick up where they left off from last semester,” Weber said.
