Maura Gibson, a senior dual dance and theatre major from Groves, Texas, is set to perform in the upcoming Fresh Moves Dance Showcase at Slippery Rock University. The event, which highlights student choreography and creativity, will take place on December 5, 2023, at 19:00 and on December 6, 2023, at 14:00 in the Stoner West Dance Studio Theater.
The showcase will feature a total of nine choreographed performances by current SRU dance students. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and can be purchased online at sru.edu/tickets or at the Smith Student Center information desk.
Event Highlights and Student Contributions
The Fresh Moves Dance Showcase promises a diverse range of performances, showcasing the unique artistic styles of the students. Among the highlights are traditional Bharatanatyam pieces performed by students of Jaya Mani, an esteemed SRU professor of dance, alongside a historical reconstruction of modern dance pioneer Trisha Brown’s work, “Solo Olos.”
The choreography for the showcase was developed under the guidance of Lindsay Viatori, the artistic director and associate professor of dance, and Erin Kouwe, the production coordinator and assistant professor of dance. Students engaged in extensive labs and classes where they received constructive feedback from faculty and peers to refine their pieces for the showcase.
Viatori expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating, “Each year we look forward to the Fresh Moves Dance Showcase as it features solos, duets, and ensemble works created by SRU dance students. We are proud to feature student choreography. These works are the culmination of many hours of embodied and creative research and span multiple movement aesthetics.”
Participating Student Choreographers
The talented student choreographers participating in this year’s showcase include:
– Shea Cooper, a senior dance major from Hanover (South Western High School)
– Maura Gibson, a senior dual dance and theatre major from Groves (Port Neches-Groves High School)
– Brooke McCarthy, a senior dance major from Pittsburgh (Upper St. Clair High School)
– Lia Palermo, a senior dual dance and sport management major from Warrendale (North Allegheny High School)
– Amber Price, a senior dance major from Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg High School)
– Paula Rodriguez-Alvarez, a senior dance major from San Rafael, Costa Rica
– Summer Salos, a senior dance major from Annapolis, Maryland (Gunston High School)
– Mariella Sprague, a senior dance major from Buffalo, New York
– Mackenzie Sprowls, a senior dual dance and English writing major from Washington (Lincoln Park High School)
For more details about the event and the SRU Dance Department, interested individuals can visit the university’s official website.
Slippery Rock University is recognized as a premier four-year public institution, offering over 150 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. With a student body exceeding 8,000, the university is consistently acknowledged for its quality of education and innovation. The campus spans 660 acres and features modern facilities, a residential village, and athletic venues for its 17 NCAA Division II teams. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, SRU is a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and is committed to fostering an inclusive community and preparing students for successful careers.
