Moorpark College Dance Department made its debut on the Main Stage Theater for the Fall Dance Concert “Speaking Movement,” shedding light on topics such as domestic strife and culture.
The concert took place in the Main Stage Theater on Nov 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Moorpark College’s Performing Arts Center. Artistic Director Beth Megill expressed her thoughts on performing live in the Fall Dance Concert’s performance program.
“To be able to occupy and perform in this beautiful theater again is a gift,” said Megill. “The work in this program reflects the deep appreciation these dance artists have for dancing together, creating together, performing together and simply being together.”
According to a program preview of the show, each dance was choreographed by a student or faculty member and presented a story on a personal topic through body movement. The preview featured descriptions of performances that shed light on topics such as anxiety, isolation, trauma, culture, family and nostalgia.
Student Choreographer Ethan Rieder crafted a performance titled “Blind Spots,” focusing on domestic strife and toxic home life. The dance featured a quartet of student dancers, striving to give the performance an intimate feeling.
“Choreography for me has always been about telling a story, spreading a message, collaborating and sharing in the collective experiences of everyone involved,” said Rieder. “It’s so freeing being able to express myself by creating movement.”
One student dancer featured in Rieder’s dance Samantha Longtin revealed how dancing makes her feel.
“It might sound silly, but for me, I start off a bit nervous, excited and as the dances continue I feel a sense of calmness and freedom,” revealed Longtin. “There’s nothing as amazing as getting to perform on that marvelous stage.”
For information on ticket sales visit the Performing Arts Center page.
