Dances We Dance, the dance and choreography showcase that features students and faculty performing a variety of dance styles, is back this weekend with a three-day showing.

The Thursday premiere featured hip hop, ballroom, interpretive and more. The opening act was a cultural dance focused on agriculture, with two dancers performing dressed in costume while a small band accompanied with live hispanic music.

“This is the third time we have had live music — culturally unique music,” Clarence Brooks, the director of dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance, as well as coordinator for the show, said.

FAU’s Ballroom Dancing club — the University’s longest running club at eleven years — performed a “Ballroom Medley” choreographed by their instructor, that went from an upbeat pop style to more traditional ballroom steps as the music changed course.

The dance titled “SenSeeing” featured two male dancers who shimmied humorously between steps and was meant to be a commentary on reactions to awkward moments, according to an informational slide that preceded each of the dances.

The second act opened with an interpretive exploration of famous movie quotes and what happens when your mind wanders during a film, also explained by a preceding slide.

“It is amazing that there is so much talent, and professional talent, at this college level,” Alex Catalano, a photographer who has been covering FAU Dance events for nine years, told the UP. “Every year [the dance department] seems to get a little bit stronger and stronger.”

The majority of the dances were student choreographed, though three of the pieces were choreographed by staff and alumni, according to Brooks.

“I enjoyed it, I didn’t know we had this much talent in our school,” multimedia major and event usher Elizabeth Perry said.

Along with the live music, this year’s Dances We Dance saw significant change in the demographics of its dancers.

“Something that is quite interesting [about this year’s show] is that there are almost as many men performing as women,” Brooks said.

Each dance had a unique style that elicited different responses from the crowd. The backdrop slides that led into each piece explained the message behind each choreography, giving the audience further material to think about as they watched the performances.

There are three more showings of this year’s Dances We Dance: Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m. Single tickets can be bought for $20 at the box office. Student tickets are $12, and tickets for faculty and alumni are $15.

“This show is proof that you can have a solid future in dance,” Catalano said. “[You can have] a future in the arts here at FAU.”

For more information on Dances We Dance or to purchase tickets, visit the website.
Tucker Berardi is a staff writer for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @tucker_berardi.