Eastern University’s dance department is having a performance in Mcinnis Auditorium on April 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. called “Threshold.” This performance will showcase different student works, a senior thesis and even guest performances. Subjects range all over from social issues to Christian biblical references, and even some pieces created just for fun.
Allyssa Knorr’s, a soon to be graduate here at Eastern, senior thesis will be presented both nights of the performance. She has choreographed the performance herself and is excited to share it with everyone. The overall concept for the performance is personal growth, with a message behind that of courage and self-discovery. It focuses on finding your inner strength to overcome life’s struggles. “I actually use a door as a prop to represent the opening and closing of new chapters in life.” Allyssa has choreographed for performances here at Eastern before, but she wanted to do this last performance to express how much she’s grown from being here at Eastern.
Rachel Noonan, a recent Eastern University graduate who double majored in English and Dance and participated in the dance team, will be returning as an alum to perform both nights. She will be returning with a group called Glorify Performing Arts, a Christian contemporary professional dance company in Westchester Pa. They travel to different locations throughout the U.S. and perform for the community. Director Melody Mendoza has created and choreographed the performance that Eastern students will see on April 24 and 25. It is a contemporary point piece on the bad and good thoughts that go through your head when you look in the mirror. The goal of this performance is for the audience to glean something out of it, whether that be a message of positive and negative thoughts, or just reflecting how we talk to ourselves in our own lives. Rachel is extremely excited to return to Eastern for this performance and comments on how the dance department “is a treasure for Eastern.” She is looking forward to sharing the experience of an Eastern dance performance with her coworkers.
Philly hip hop artist Marcus Tucker has also choreographed a piece on 10 of Eastern’s students for this performance. The movement style is hip hop, but the message is about conformity. It reveals how we all conform our faces to fit into certain situations and only reveal our true selves to those we are close to. Other student performances will also take place and will be different each night. During the breaks between dances, bloopers from rehearsals for most of the dances will be shown before the piece to keep the audience engaged, help them prepare for the next performance and allow the dancers time to get ready for the next piece.
Welsh wants the audience to feel that this is as near a professional production as they can achieve from every aspect including dancing, lighting, music, costumes, content and the program itself. He would “love [for] the audience to go on a journey with [the dancers] for each piece and make themselves available for what they are looking for.”
Please come and experience the carefully crafted pieces being performed on April 24 and 25 here at Eastern University. Come see what the dance program here is all about and be ready for more shows to come!
